Merry Christmas!

Had a lovely lovely Christmas -great food from smoked salmon for breakfast to the easiest dinner I've ever cooked. Mum and Dad did all the prep from peeling the potatoes to stuffing the turkey - and delivered it all ready to go - all I had to do was cook it! And make gravy. And Mum washed up!!! I made roast potatoes in duck fat (we didn't have goose) and they were lush! Never done it before but no more olive oil for me when it comes to roasties - I'm converted!

Christmas morning was lovely - Oz was in heaven with his stocking full of Dora and Diego stuff and chocolate of course. Toby was a bit bemused but played with Oz's toys (when Oz let him). They both got great presents this year (though they had to wait till after lunch for them) - my best bargain was a huge cube for Toby for £7.50 from Ebay - as you can see it's brilliant!

He played with it for hours (so did Oz!) He also got some gorgeous books from my sis which enthralled him as you can see.


Oz got tons - musical instruments from us and my sister, a Peppa Pig train, more chocolate, a roaring dinosaur and rubber snakes. He's also got £100 to get a bike in the january sales.
I got lots of lovely stuff - smellies for the bath (I can't wait) and glitterbugs from Lush - some glittery shoes from my sis that are a little too small but I will wear them even if my feet bleed!


My big gift was this beautiful locket from Rob so I can put a photo of the boys close to my heart.
Hope you all had a very merry one. I'm off early to bed as I'm shattered - got a stinking cold off Toby too and have spent the day drugged up on Ibuprofen, Lemsip and Sudafed! I think I'll sleep well tonight! Merry Christmas to everyone!!!

Haven't blogged for ages!

Don't know why...oh yes I do - I'm knackered!!!

All is getting better in the Edwards Household - Rob is on the mend finally (though slowly). He's going to attempt to go into work on the 21st just to see how he goes. He's been out with us a couple of times- to the shops and to the park - and hasn't collapsed so that's good.

Christmas is in full swing - decorations up....advent calender arguments every day "I want my candy" says Oscar at 6.30am...."I want to open 2!". I took the boys to see Santa at The Glades the other day and the photo is hysterical - will get mum to scan it in - Toby screaming, Oscar looking terrified!

Oz finishes nursery this week as the vouchers we signed up for finally finish. I'll miss my 3 afternoons a week of just Toby time...Oz is innkeeper in the nursery nativity - so will try and film and upload it.

Here's some snaps of us in the park today - cold but sunny - lovely day.

Oz feeding squirrels

Good shot of Rob's beard!
Oz on the monkey bars (how appropriate)

Toby and I just chillin, swingin....

Monkey boy!

Stolen from Claire!

Very appropriate I think considering purple is my fave colour!

you are plum #DDA0DD

Your dominant hues are red and blue. You're confident and like showing people new ideas. You play well with others and can be very influential if you want to be. Your saturation level is low - You stay out of stressful situations and advise others to do the same. You may not be the go-to person when something really needs done, but you know never to blow things out of proportion. Your outlook on life is bright. You see good things in situations where others may not be able to, and it frustrates you to see them get down on everything.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

Last night....

...for the first time in about 9 years I think, I got rather drunk! My friend Joyce came to stay over and plied me with wine - we drank a bottle and a half between us which isn't too excessive - but since I hardly ever drink, it made me very giggly.

It was fab though. I really felt like Sal again, not mum or domestic servant. The last few weeks with all the illness and stress have taken their toll. A mum I haven't seen for ages bumped into me in the park on Saturday and said I was looking "frazzled".....But even though I'm very tired (stayed up till midnight which considering I'm usually in bed and asleep by 10 felt very naughty), it was totally worth it. Had lovely chat - caught up with mutual friend gossip, put the world to rights, talked about all sorts.

And this morning she looked after the boys for an hour to let me sleep in and then went to a soft play place and clambered all over the place with Oz - she doesn't have children so it was a surreal new experience for her - the indoor play centre on a wet Sunday (packed to the hilt).

Hoorah for old friends. Can't wait to go to bed early tonight though!!!!

One other thing. My friend Moxie's beautiful daughter Roxabella is in a competition to be a super smiler for Huggies. She needs people to vote for her so if you have a second please go here and vote. She's third row down, first pic along in a pumpkin suit. She's gorgeous and Toby's future wife.

http://www.bounty.com/babyphoto/browse.asp?btysc=2&btyCurrentPage=105

Watch

This.....

Santa Baby

The fastest personality test ever

You answer two questions - and it gives you your personality.....try it here

This was me

you chose AX - your Enneagram type is SEVEN (aka "The Enthusiast").

"I am happy and open to new things"

Adventurers are energetic, lively, and optimistic. They want to contribute to the world.

How to Get Along with Me

• Give me companionship, affection, and freedom.
• Engage with me in stimulating conversation and laughter.
• Appreciate my grand visions and listen to my stories.
• Don't try to change my style. Accept me the way I am.
• Be responsible for youself. I dislike clingy or needy people.
• Don't tell me what to do.

What I Like About Being a SEVEN

• being optimistic and not letting life's troubles get me down
• being spontaneous and free-spirited
• being outspoken and outrageous. It's part of the fun.
• being generous and trying to make the world a better place
• having the guts to take risks and to try exciting adventures
• having such varied interests and abilities

What's Hard About Being a SEVEN

• not having enough time to do all the things I want
• not completing things I start
• not being able to profit from the benefits that come from specializing; not making a commitment to a career
• having a tendency to be ungrounded; getting lost in plans or fantasies
• feeling confined when I'm in a one-to-one relationship

SEVENs as Children Often

• are action oriented and adventuresome
• drum up excitement
• prefer being with other children to being alone
• finesse their way around adults
• dream of the freedom they'll have when they grow up

SEVENs as Parents

• are often enthusiastic and generous
• want their children to be exposed to many adventures in life
• may be too busy with their own activities to be attentive

Not too inaccurate.....for two questions!!! What do you think?

What a difference a few days makes....

In his cot-cage on oxygen

Lemme out!!!

Home - asleep in his own bed

Crawling around happily causing chaos!

We're home

Thank you for all the lovely comments. Got discharged today as Toby was doing so well. He came off oxygen last night, was back on it in the night but was off it again this morning and his wheeze finally responded to the drugs and disappeared. He's so HAPPY to be home! Cooing, crawling, standing next to his brother by pulling himself up on the furniture. I'm exhausted but so happy to be home. I'm going to have some yummy dinner (potatoes dauphinoise and some fish), bubble bath and bed.

Rob is even yellower today and really not at all well. That won't change for a while. I've been told the combination of glandular fever (or mono for my American readers) and hepatitis is like being hit by a train then run over by a steam roller. I'm so glad I'm home now so I can look after him.

My mother, as always, has been our saviour these past few days. Even Dad was on child-care duties yesterday as Rob just can't function. It's going to be a hard few weeks till he's better but being in hospital has really made me count my blessings. So many sick babies on the ward - all with breathing problems. A little boy in the bed next to ours had Downs and all sorts of complications - has been in hospital nearly all his life. A baby in the other bed opposite was so congested - lungs full of fluid and really poorly.

So I'm grateful to the universe that my son was only there for a few days and is happy and getting better. Things could have been much worse.

Forgot to mention...

Rob has glandular fever with hepatitis. He's yellow, exhausted and very ill - can't go any where near Toby. Who is a lot better by the way but still in hospital and will be definitely tonight. Thank god for my parents - Dad has Oz this afternoon, Mum is at hospital, I've popped home to sleep for a couple of hours as I got NO sleep last night and Rob is in bed ill.

It never fucking rains.....but it pours

Send Toby love

Just to let you all know Toby is in hospital - was admitted today with "viral induced wheezing" - ie asthma like breathing problems. I've been up nearly 24 hours and am shattered. Am staying over night with him in hospital. Send him all your love - he's not a well little boy. He's not life-threatened or anything - he just can't breathe well and is very hot. Will update soon

Yet another post...

Can you tell there's nothing on TV tonight? I was just looking through sitemeter to see who has been on my blog and where...and re-read this post about Cosmic Ordering...I was sort of laughing at the idea....but I asked for a healthy baby and a new car.

I have both. I never thought I'd get a new car (remember this)....and I got my healthy boy who wasn't taken from me when he was born like Oz was....

Noel Edmonds - all is forgiven.

So.....I am asking again....watch this space and I'll let you know...(I'm using the same method as last time)

Cosmos, oh Cosmos oh great mystic Cosmos
Wake up and bring me this thing, wondrous thing.
Wake up, be bright, be magic and light
Oh Cosmos please hear what I sing....

Dear Cosmos....please can I have an acting job?

And the boys...

Feel I should do a little update....

Today Toby has finally sussed how to stand up. And is now doing it all over the place. Using anything he can get his hands on to pull himself up. He's ever so pleased with himself! He has also started smacking his lips a lot when he's hungry/thirsty. Here's a little example!



Oz hasn't enjoyed Guy Fawkes season. He's absolutely terrified. We went to a fireworks party on Saturday and he wouldn't go in the garden to see the show. Toby on the other hand, like his mother, absolutely bloody loved it! Was clapping every time a banger went off and bouncing up and down on my knee with glee.

Last night, being Nov 5th, it was particularly like Beirut on the estate behind our house. Oz was screaming and crying - so scared that Rob took him into our bed with him and lay there cuddling and reassuring him till he went to sleep. First thing Oz said this morning was "I like fireworks mummy....when they stop".

So it looks like it's just going to be Toby and I in the future trooping up to Blackheath for the displays! Rob hates fireworks too - so it must be genetic.

Talking of which - was very happy to read this today - I'm still feeding Toby - I could cup feed him formula but to be honest, I can't be arsed! I feel so much better than I used to now he's sleeping through (still woke up at 6am this morning and most mornings but I'm getting used to it!). Bfeeding is still easiest. He's got his front teeth coming through so has been erratic with eating - so easy to just put him on the boob a bit more. He's eating well - though he's refusing jars now - just won't eat them - but wolfs down "real" food. Thank God for scrambled egg!

Both boys are generally fab at the moment. Oz can still throw a wobbly - full on, on the floor, screaming and real tears - at the drop of a hat....but I just ignore it and it soon stops. The best control for him at the moment...."I'm counting to three.....one....two...." and whatever it is you want him to do is always done by 2. I used to threaten - if you don't do such and such by the time I count to three, there'll be no x, y, or z. But then I realised I didn't have to use the latter part of the threat - just the counting works!

Ok - there's a kiddie update for all of you (especially my family). My dad, who retired 2 months ago, has now got himself another job. Abroad. In Kosovo. (Nice...) So I have another reason to keep this updated so he can see his grandsons wherever he is.

I made this!

It's my very first toad in the hole - made with apple and rosemary - actually a Tesco website recipe and bloody gorgeous. It's not perfect - the batter should have risen higher - not sure I whisked it enough (Moxie will no doubt tell me as she is the queen of yorkshires) but not bad for a first attempt.

Here's the recipe

Ingredients

* 2 tbsp vegetable oil
* 2 red skinned apples, washed and cored
* 8 Finest pork and leek sausages (spot the fact I only had 6 - didn't seem to matter)
* A few springs of fresh rosemary
* 100 g plain flour
* Pinch of salt
* 2 large eggs
* 150 ml half fat milk
* 150 ml water

Method

1. Preheat the oven to Fan 200degree C/ 400degree F/ Gas Mark 7. Place the oil in a large roasting tin and place in the oven to heat up. Cut each apple into about 8 wedges.

2. Remove the hot roasting tin from the oven add the sausages,apple wedges and rosemary and roast for 10mins or untill beginning to brown. Whilst the sausages cook,place the flour in a bowl with the salt. Make a well in the centre and break in the eggs. Gradually whisk in the milk and water untill the mixture is smooth. Set aside.

3. Remove the roasting tin from the oven and shake well, pour over the batter then return to the oven and bake for 30-35mins or untill golden and risen. Serve with vegetables and gravy.

Rob and Oz (and Toby too) wolfed it down. I recommend it!

I'm turning all domestic in my old age!

I want this on a t-shirt

Great slogan...., originally uploaded by Catwoman100.

Or on cards to give out to people who STARE....

Oz and Tobes at Gambado

Turn your volume DOWN - this is Gambado - soft play place, home of millions of screaming kiddiwinks.....Toby had a ride on the carousel for the first time and then played in the baby area.....

Will he get into the ball pit? Ooooo the suspense (look out Speilberg)

Carousel Ride


Baby area 1



Ballpit 2



Ballpit conclusion


Enjoy!

Ok I read Owen Meany

( see here for reminder)And it was ok....I preferred The World According To Garp....but I didn't really see how it related to me. But I pinched another personality test off Clare and this one is SPOT ON!!! Hee hee!! Ordinary? Moi?

I'm ready for my close up now......

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Personal DNA

I did this....interesting....




http://www.personaldna.com/report.php?k=sNxwZMAtuFMPrNd-FM-CDDCA-0ab8

For those who know me - do you agree?

Autumn Fun

It's a glorious day today - cold this morning but bright sunshine this afternoon - we were going to go to Gambado - soft play centre - but there was a queue a mile long to get in even though half term isn't till next week. And the sun was shining....so we went to the park! Have a look at this...

Watch this!

Oscar's new favourite thing? Making up stories. You give him a few items to get him going...then watch his imagination run RIOT! He starts off with an original Oz story but towards the end he's remembering a story about a chameleon tying up a crocodile and a leopard with rope. I'm still gripped though!

Ha Ha Ha

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

Hello lurkers....

I recently remembered that I have sitemeter and was checking out my stats...I have more readers than I thought I did.....so amuse me - I hope I'm entertaining you with my dull little life....leave me a comment! De-lurk yourself. I know from Poppy's blog that there are national de-lurk days but I always seem to miss those....

So brighten up my week and say
Hello/Howdy/Oi! /Bonjour/ Guten Tag/ Hola/ Shwmai/ Minjhani/ Ciao/ As-salaam-aleykum/ Namaste/Sawubona /Zdravstvuyte/Jambo/ Dzień dobry/ Yo!

or anything else...

Stolen from Clare

You Are 30% Left Brained, 70% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?

Not sure about the sports bit...and I do like dogs - that must be the 30%

Car Booty!

I lost my car boot sale virginity today and finally got some of our crap together to sell at a boot sale. Toby consideratly woke me at 4.45am to be ready - argh! we all fell to sleep again until 7.45 so it was a bit of a mad rush (woke up at 7.45, out of house by 7.55) - thank god I'd packed the car (to the rafters) the night before. The lovely Clare came with me and we drove down to Swanley.

The sale was MASSIVE and most people were set up by the time we arrived. I sold all sorts from baby stuff to a coffee maker that was a wedding present. Everything I thought would sell didn't and everything I thought wouldn't did. Including my insanely eclectic CD selection - from Celine Dion to Swing Music via Apache Indian. Hardly any books sold (even though they were recent and some recommended by Richard & Judy!). Didn't sell my footspa (I wasn't surprised). But I made £70 which isn't bad for a morning.

Will DEFINITELY do it again. I've left 90% of what we didn't sell in the car and will drop it off at the Charity Shop in the morning - we're trying to clear space at home. But will keep a few items (a couple of baby gyms in good condition) and sell again with Clare when she does her boot sale.

Knackered though. Got back from the sale at about 12.45, had 10 minutes to get in the house, wrap a present, burn a birthday CD and we were out again to a birthday party in Woodford. Got back at 6.30 so I was out of the house nearly 12 hours. I really missed Toby! Hardly saw him (apart from at 4.45grrrrr). Anwyay. It's 8.55 (what a lot of times and brackets are in this post) and I'm off to bed.

Nite nite

Another first

Toby clapped today!! He hasn't quite managed it perfectly - one hand was in a fist. But he was clapping them both together like a maniac - copying Oscar of course. And laughing his ass off. I pulled my phone out to record it but then Oscar threw a wobbly and the moment was lost. Damn! I wish I could plug a USB into my ear or something and download my memory of it!

He did it!!

Toby crawled forward today. After about 6 weeks of getting up on his hands and knees....and going backwards - he went forwards in a combo crawl/belly flop. Kind of like that breakdance move the caterpillar - belly push up, use hands to move forward, belly push up....knees used for commando style crawling....it's quite a unique movement and I will do my best to get it on camera so you can see.

Hoorah!

I got recognised today!!

Very funny. There's a bus stop right outside Oscar's pre-school. A woman was staring at me as I walked in with Oz. And as I came out she grabbed me - smiling away - and asked if I was on Tracy Beaker. I didn't know what she was on about. Then she said "Gladys" and I realised she meant Basil Brush!

She was so excited. She said she'd seen me dropping Oscar off before and thought it was me.....

They've been showing that episode a lot - a lot more than the second episode I did. I actually got a cheque through this week for repeat fees (the grand total of £50!) so it's great. I'm now famous in the Downham Estate area.....

Made me smile though!

Can't wait till Saturday. My favourite artist Brian Froud is coming on a rare trip to London and doing a signing at Forbidden Planet and I'm going to go and get his autograph...again. Got a copy of his latest book from America and he's also signing the new Labyrinth DVD which I want him to dedicate to my Toby (since his Toby is the one who inspired us to name our son!) I'm a geek. I'll also manage to cram in a visit to my fave sushi place for lunch methinks.....Rob is on kid duty to make up for having a week off!!!

Hanging in there!

I'm coping ok without other half! Having Oz at preschool AND nursery Tue-Thurs is certainly helping! Mum has been here the last two nights helping put them to bed, and tonight I did it on my own again, no problem.

Toby had his first Pizza today! I'm such a bad mother....cheese and tomato thin crust pizza from Tesco - the adult size....Oz was having it for lunch and Toby was practically throwing himself out of his chair trying to reach it. I gave him a little piece thinking he'd gum it a bit and not be interested.....

(sorry that's the wrong way round...it's off my phone and I can't work out how to turn it - it's only 20 seconds so you won't get a crick in your neck!)



He LOVED it. Ate 3 slices - 3 small slices but of an adult size pizza!!! He's also addicted to toast and Marmite at the moment. I know I should give him healthier finger food - I'm such a bad mother!
I'm surviving though. Mornings are the hardest. And the weekend will be tough. Watch this space....

Stole this from Clare - I feel awful cos I've never read it! Think I'll be checking it out of the library....

You're A Prayer for Owen Meany!

by John Irving

Despite humble and perhaps literally small beginnings, you inspire
faith in almost everyone you know. You are an agent of higher powers, and you manifest
this fact in mysterious and loud ways. A sense of destiny pervades your every waking
moment, and you prepare with great detail for destiny fulfilled. When you speak, IT
SOUNDS LIKE THIS!


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Rob's gone....

No don't worry! He hasn't left me - well he has but only to go on a business trip to Texas. So I'm flying solo until Monday. EEK!!! I think they'll hear my screaming in Texas!

I'm very jealous -I love America and have friends not too far from where he's going. If we hadn't had the kids, I'd have gone with him.....

So it's just me and the boys. Rob is a very hands on dad so it's going to be hard to adjust - every morning he gets Oz up, fed and clothed and often feeds Toby breakfast too to give me time to shower or get dressed in peace. And he baths both of them every night and puts Oscar to bed.

Last night he had to work too so I did a trial run of a new bedtime routine. Fed Toby downstairs while Night Garden finished. Then bathed them both - left Oz in the bath as I put Toby in pjs and in his bed - poor Toby didn't get a story or a lullaby - then went back and did the Oscar teeth-story-bed routine. Toby yowled a bit but by the time Oz was down, he was asleep.

Mum is going to help me out some evenings so Toby won't be completely neglected at bedtime! But it's going to be tough....especially at the weekend when I have them both all day - thank god for preschool and nursery during the week!

So send me anti-stress vibes - I'm going to need em.

Pre-School!

Oscar started pre-school on Monday and he loves it! I'm really happy - I hadn't originally got a place at the school I wanted but they rang last week while we were on holiday and now Oz is happily esconced at the Limelight Pre-school. My neighbours son James goes there so Oz has a friend already. He loves it - lots of brilliant toys, books, computers.....happy happy days.

I feel a bit guilty though - we paid for Oz's nursery with tax free vouchers from Rob's work - when we tried to cancel them, we were told they have to be used for a year minimum - so until December Oz is still at nursery 3 sessions a week. So on Tues, Weds and Thurs afternoon he goes to nursery. I collect him from pre-school at 11.45, come home for lunch, a little play and then I bundle him off again! I'm determined to make a big fuss of him tomorrow afternoon. I feel like a part timer! Though I still have Toby 24/7.

Toby's sleep has got even better - he now goes 7.30 till 6.30 - no more 5am wake ups. He's got a horrible cough which is waking him in the night but he seems to settle back down without crying. I'm still awake listening though...

I'm going to try and be a better housekeeper now I've got more Oz-free time - the house is like a pigsty/bombsite. I'm even going to cook hotpot for the first time ever this afternoon. I AM delia. Or am I - I'll let you know......

I will resist the temptation to surf the internet all afternoon, no facebook, no blogging.....I will be a good wifey. Rob is working tonight. And Monday night. And then is going to Texas on Tuesday for the week. Not looking forward to it. At least Toby goes down a lot easier now - I think I'm going to put him to bed, then do Oz - again more time for Oscar and mummy on their own. After watching supernanny last night I need to make sure we have fun together.

I wish I could stay up later and watch Heroes on BBC3 - I watched it on BBC2 last night and I'm so gripped - it's the first series I've watched since the kids really - I insist on Wednesday night as telly night (I don't usually watch it other nights anymore - I used to be such a telly addict but now I'd rather read in peace and sleep!). Supernanny followed by Heroes. Last night there were the next 2 episodes on BBC3 straight after but I was good and went to bed.....thank god really since Toby was coughing all night.

Taught Tippee Toes this morning. There's now enough for a regular Thursday class which is fab. So any Mums out there who are reading this from my magazine column, and are at a loose end on a Thursday morning, go check this out - I teach the bots class on a Thursday (plug plug plug)

Ok I'm waffling now. Trying to avoid hanging the washing out and dusting I suppose........

We're back!

Just a short entry - got a ton of washing to do....we had a fantastic time. Huge thanks to Ursula for her invaluable tour guide information. We saw dinosaurs, rode a steam train, played with farm animals, went on the beach. Weather was perfect - only rained once and that was after the boys were in bed on the last night.

Hard work - always would be holidaying with young children - we often wished we had a babysitter so we could explore some of the nicer restaurants without the kids. But it was fab - highly recommend the Isle of Wight - especially Blackgang Chine - Oz's favourite.

Not a great day (warning....winge ahead)

One of those days....A day when I have Oz and Toby all day is always exhausting. Toby is teething and has been whining and crying all day. And refusing to sleep. Oscar has been horrible - went to Gambado and he kept punching his friend - yes punching - no idea where he's learnt that one from...

He wouldn't sleep at lunchtime (neither would Toby) and this afternoon we went to see his friend Sam whose birthday it was. They couldn't get the hang of sharing - and I kept explaining to Oscar that because it was Sam's birthday, and these were his special presents, that Sam was entitled to play with them first. Tantrum tantrum tantrum. Toby screaming. Left Oscar with Sam and went with Toby to the docs for my appt to get my depo injection. Only to be told they'd made the appointment for NEXT Friday - even though I assured them they had told me this Friday and that I wouldn't have made the appointment for the week I was on holiday - they wouldn't see me. Total waste of fucking time driving an hour in school run traffic. With Toby screaming.

Then got a call from a friend to say I didn't even get an interview for that job I applied for. I knew it was out of my league.

Got back to Sam's house to find Oscar in full on screaming tantrum over Lightning McQueen toy so had to carry him kicking and screaming into the car and back into the traffic - now rush hour proper.

Both children SCREAMED all the way home. My nerves are fucking shot. Toby is, as I type, screaming in the living room but I have to walk away or I might throw him out of the window.

Tomorrow we go on holiday. I can't fucking wait....or can I - imagining this in a small caravan.....ARGH!!!!

From the mouths of babes

Tonight...while listening to the lullaby cd I made him when he was a baby Oscar said the following.

When You Wish Upon a Star is playing - Disney version sung by Louis Armstrong.

As it starts there's a choral oooohing

Oscar: "Listen Daddy. It's people singing....on Mars!!!"

As Louis starts to sing

Oscar: "I know who it is on this song. It is Louis Armstrong. He is on the rings of Saturn. And he is my Grandpa".

Hmmmmmm

Just for Kirsti....

A fab birthday party

This afternoon we went to Frank's birthday party. He's one of Oz's NCT chums. It was amazing. Andrea, his mum, had arranged for us all to go to Forest Hill Fire Station - it was amazing - the kids got to sit in the fire engine and play with the hose. Phenomenal idea for a birthday party! Hoorah!

Toby has a tooth!!!

Just poking through - lower left front one. Breastfeeding will now be a tricky process....

He's still sleeping through - just waking up at 6. Which I can't really complain about.....yet!

Oz is still dry - no accidents for days now - and we have cut down on the candy rewards - he's easily distracted. Still gets a mini bag of haribo for pooing though.

So that's a brief, bodily function obsessed update. Will try and get a pic of the tooth - I haven't seen it yet (Rob has) but have definitely felt it!

Some pics for Mum

Sorry Mum - didn't have a chance to take that many - always had my hands full of Toby or something. Have got some video footage of the nursery fun day and the cake so will try and put it on youtube soon. But here are the highlights...

He had a fab day. Got loads of amazing presents (we finally opened them all). Some brilliant books including Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs (combining his 2 loves), Where The Wild Things Are (my favourite as a kid), Igor the bird who couldn't sing and some Mr Men books, a radio controlled car, a thomas the tank engine track with a thomas who goes round on his own, a spiderman quad bike (his current favourite toy), some clothes, some dino pics for his wall, K'nex bug kit, some art equipment...I think that's everything but I'm sure I forgot something - SO much!

The nursery fun day was fab. Toby ate his first ever sausage and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Lots of activities and some fundraising for Make A Wish foundation. We won the "guess how many sweeties in the jar" competition, much to Oscar and Rob's delight....there were 805...I think there are about 500 left....though Rob's responsible for that - a selection of mini shrimps, foam bananas and dolly mixtures - luckily all sweets I don't particularly like! Oz ate lots of cake and is on a serious sugar high! But a great birthday. I'm exhausted! Hopefully so is he. (Toby went down like a dream.)

HE SLEPT THROUGH!!! Oh and it's Oscar's birthday

After 3 nights of leaving Toby - closing the door at 7.30 and not going back in until at least 5am he slept through last night. Woke at 6.45. Previous nights he'd woken at around 5.30 and I'd fed him and he'd gone back to sleep until 7 - last night was perfect. CROSS YOUR FINGERS that he does it again tonight.


Oscar is having a wonderful birthday. Woke up to lots of presents - he still hasn't opened half of them. He loved his scooter from us - we also went and got him his Triceratops who he loves to bits. Spent the morning in the park after the shops and he's now gone for a nap. This afternoon his nursery has a fun day so we're hijacking it and telling Oz it's his second party - we've bought a huge cake to share - should be fun.


But the best present of the day was Toby sleeping all night. THANK GOD! Let's hope this is the start of a whole new phase of wide awake Sally!

Trying to be a bit brighter

My blog has been bloody miserable the last few entries hasn't it. I'm trying to look for the silver lining...be more upbeat. More positive. So here are some good things.

Oz had a brilliant birthday party. Had his face painted pink (wouldn't let them do anything else), got a binbag full of pressies (which I've hidden till Friday - his real birthday), played with his friends, had a big cake. Fab day. My dad came which was wonderful. Lots of friends were there - it was a bit hectic! But a really good party. Oz is completely confused now as to when his birthday is but I'm sure he'll work it out on Friday when he's buried under a ton of fabulous gifts. Thank you to all who came or sent cards or pressies to the lucky brat. Much appreciated.

Potty training. We're bribing him with sweets which isn't ideal but sod it - it's working. Perfect day today - no accidents at all. He's even been going to the toilet on his own when we're out at play places. We're going to gently wean him off the sweets soon but at the moment it's working so I ain't changing it. He's brushing his teeth a bit more. And he's at no risk for obesity at the moment - the kid is skinny as a rake.

Toby. Right. On Monday night I decided I couldn't do the 4 times a night waking anymore and I was going to leave him to cry. I remember getting to this stage with Oz and one night leaving him cured him - he slept through after that. I hate doing it - I'm not a Gina Ford fan. But I'm too exhausted to do pick up put down (and Toby's too bloody heavy) and I need to teach him to sleep and go to sleep on his own. So Monday night - he woke at 3.30 as per usual and I didn't go in. He cried on and off until 4.30. Woke again at 5.30 when I went in and fed him. I had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday morning. I looked like hell as I hadn't slept much. I've got an infected toe and a chest infection. Doc basically told me I looked like shit and that I needed to get more sleep as my immune system was low. She asked about Toby's sleep patterns and bedtime routine. She suggested that I not breastfeed him last thing - to feed him THEN bath him, read him a story and put him down. Obvious isn't it.....She also reassured me that leaving him to cry was a good idea - he doesn't need feeding at night.

It's funny - she's almost given me permission in my head.....so last night I fed him, Rob bathed him, then we read Goodnight Moon, I sang Godspeed by the Dixie Chicks to him as I cuddled him and put him down. He wasn't best pleased. Cried for half an hour. I was strong - cooked dinner and hung washing - kept myself busy - while listening to him wail on teh monitor. Rob told me to turn it off but I felt I had to listen out for him. He stopped and went to sleep. I checked on him half an hour later and he was peaceful and sweet looking.

He woke up at 5.30. That's the LONGEST he's ever slept. So we're doing it tonight. And as I type, it's been 10 minutes since I shut his door and he's asleep already. So as much as I slag Ms Ford off, it does work. And as long as I keep ignoring the NSPCC ad that plays in my head (Nicholas has learnt that no one comes when he cries....that one) then I think it's worth it. Toby is still his happy cheerful self all day - more so - and I don't feel like a zombie.

Mum and Dad are off visiting my sis in America and I do miss them already. But Rob is off this week which is a help. I escaped today and went to Victoria Station for lunch - classy eh? But I had a discount voucher for Yo Sushi to use so I had a leisurely lunch alone. Which was lovely. Course came home to a very stressed hubby....but it was worth it - welcome to my world.....

Looking forward to Oscar's birthday on Friday. We're going to take him to the Build A Bear Workshop as they have a triceratops you can make - I think he'll love it. And I'll let him open a present every half hour and probably will still have some left over! Tomorrow I get a lie - in as Rob is here, and they we're going to Catford to buy the other part of Oz's present - a scooter.

I've been neglecting my friends, my work and my phone and emails for a few days so apologies to all. I'm fine - honestly. And thank you to those who have rung, emailed or even offered to pray for me (go ahead Beege - I'll take all the help I can get!). I'm thankful for your friendship all of you.

I'm going to endeavour to brighten up and might even try and tell a joke next post.....!