What happened last night?

Ted woke up at 2.30 and then was awake on and off until 420 at which point I took him into the waterbed, had his bottle and by 515 I was reading him a story and putting him back down in the cot and thankfully he went to sleep, although it took me until 6 to go back and by then I was shattered and had lost most of the night, and on the one night where Ry and I were up late loading tunes on my iPod until 12.30am. The amazing thing is – I don’t feel that bad today, abit tired now and going for an early night but I think I must have finally caught up on all my sleep and Teds normal 8pm to 630am is a copeable with routine – 7 would be nice but its ok?! Even a month ago just one night like that would have made me feel shocking. Ah well, we are off to Bristol on Thursday and to BlueStone for the weekend so that will no doubt disrupt him enough that we will be doing some restless nights while we are away and when we get back – just a fact of life with the wee man. At least our cottage has two doubles so if one of us has to go in with him at some point we can take turns and it won’t be three in a bed which given how restless we all our is a recipe for no sleep at all.

Teds loving nursery – he did sticking yesterday although he ate glue paste which was not ideal, he appparently spurned the vegetable tagine and sultana cous cous at lunch but then decided to sample the paste in the afternoon – its only flour and water paste so no harm at all but grim all the same. Today he apparently spent the whole day putting things into and then taking them out of a new red bucket which has arrived at nursery as part of the christmas toys. He also spent some time with James moving all the chairs from one side of the room to the other even after they had been moved back into place.

Not taking any chances on him being hungry tonight so it was a 2 egg double cream scrambler with toast for tea and a bottle of warm milk to top it off, I did think maybe he was hungry last night. Still he ate his lamb roast for lunch today, and peaches and cream, and two portions of pasta and bean soup, and 2 portions of chocolate semolina, plus breakfast, snacks and drinks… some days he is a food machine and others he eats very light, its quite inconsistent. But they say you should look at what a child eats over the week. I was disciplied today as well and left the TV off so we sat at his table and ate his tea which definitely helps him concentrate and makes him fuss less.

I am looking forward to going to see Jones and little Holly and Steve in Bristol, its been ages and the kids have grown so much in since they were last together so it will be cute to see them now. The a weekend away with lagoon pool and bike riding and relaxing is going to be great.

We are starting to wonder if Egypt is such a good idea for our Jan holiday with whats going on in Gaza, its so awful  to think about but Sharm has been a target twice before and during times where there has been trouble brewing in the region, and so we are thinking its not great to go with a small baby. If it was just the two of us I think we would go anyway as we would only have to look after ourselves and each other, but with Ted it just adds a level of complexity and so I think we are going to go somewhere else. Surprisingly it was Ry who flagged it to me (normally its me who is most cautious about these things, but clearly he has Ted front of mind too.)

Well New Years Eve tomorrow – we are doing nothing – to be honest I will be lucky to stay up til midnight to see the new year in. Ry and I are going to have a dinner for two – since we are eating the house down with going away it may well be a take out, maybe some fizz and a cuddle and then the fireworks at the racecourse are massivve, amazing and visible from our bedroon window so maybe we will watch from there. I guess we were in New York for the centenial Times Square celebration so this year was never going to be quite that large/1

Love to all. Off to bed – 945 – nearly a record….

Trip to Cholsey and then a DIY day

We went to Cholsey yesterday to visit Barney and the kids and see the new house, its lovely and spacious for the kids to run around in and although there is still work to be done its looking like a lovely space. The kitchen is huge and homely with dressers and the big table and it was lovely to sit round and enjoy some lunch. It was good to meet Lukie too. The kids took us round and showed us their new rooms and Ted especially seemed to enjoy their company, laughing alot at all the noise and mayhem! We stayed for a couple of hours and had a good chinwag and catch up and then headed home for some play for the wee man before bed. He slept pretty well, through til 6.45 and then went back to sleep until 830! Ry then got up with him and I got to go back to sleep until half nine – fantastic.

Today we made a list of odd jobs and then went to Homebase to get what we needed, Ry has fixed the dodgy hinge on the cupboard in the lounge, put locks on the doors from the playroom into the conservatory to stop all the door banging and planed the door to the gym which was so tight we had stopped trying to open it, no excuse now as it opens much mroe easily! I made a thai turkey curry, a cold cuts lunch which we all enjoyed – ted had chilli picked onions, gherkins and picallilli with his boursin and gammon! also spent some time choosing what tracks I want to load on my new iPod nano while Ted was napping with The Eagle Has Landed on in the background. Ted ate really well today – fruit for brakfast with yoghurt, and lasagne for tea on top of his lunch so I feel like he has had some good meals as he was snacking alot yesterday and the only meal he dod well on was breakfast, but it seems to be one day not much the next day everything in sight with him.

There have been no red ears since Christmas Day so I am dearly hoping the ear infection has gone although he was tugging it today, but hopefully its clearing up, he is still on the antib’s although we are on the second bottle now.

Back to work tomorrow and Ted to nursery until NYE and then we are off til next week Tuesday which will be great

Forgot to take camera to Cholsey yesterday but did take some lovely snaps of shortstuff today see below

Christmas and Boxing Day

Have had a lovely Christmas, Teddy was really into it this year and I expect more so next year. The nice thing was he was excited about all his gifts and the lights and food and friends but not so frenzied about his presents that he wanted them all at once and diidn’t stop to enjoy them – I am guessing you only get one Christmas like that! We had a lazy morning and a slow start to the day – Ted had his first present in bed and then we came down and he got first sight of his kitchen which is definitely a winner. A few more presents and some time in his kitchen while I got started on all the food and then we all showered and dressed.

Bex and Al and Isla and Mac arrived around midday while I was trying to get ted down for a nap, he went off alright but the minute it was time to go into the cot it was game over, I even took him for a drive but no luck there. Lunch was a massive spread and we are workign through what to do with all the leftovers – I have already made stock and soup and we had cold cuts today (boxing day).

Kids all went to bed after the Strictly Christmas Special and then it was Bond time and later, cheese and cracker and Bond time, before we all turned in.

Ted stirred at 5 and needed a settle but slept until Mac went to see him at 730 – a veritable lie in for us, although not surprising given he skipped his nap altogether. We breakfasted together before Bex and Al left for the day and then had a stress free day at home. Cliff and Antia came with Nathan late in the day and we all had a chat and the boys played on the Wii – Ry and Cliff that is!! Now Ry is lieing in front of the TV and Ted is in bed asleep – no nap again today sow e are hoping for a lie in tomorrow. Planning to go see B and the kids in Cholsey – only problem at the moment is it seems I didn’t boil the gravy when I reheated it for our lunch and Ry is feeling grim – I felt grim earlier but feel ok now and luckily Ted wasn’t hungry so he didn’t have any. Still am hoping its not going to turn into a grim Christmas poultry situation. That aside we have had a lovely Christmas at home and would definitely do it again.

Pics of both days all together below…

Out and about over the weekend

Had a great weekend with Ted and Ry.  Saturday we went to meet Zana and Patrick and Guy for some lunch near the Southbank, Turkish restaurant called Tas which was very nice. Guy is growing up fast but unfortunately I forgot my camer so missed the oppotunity to catch the two little terrors hareing around the restaurant with parents close behind. Z and P are well and planning a trip to paris for Christmas which sounds lovely – and guy is off to Northumberland to visit his other G&G so that will be lovely for him too. Zana was also telling us about her trip to joburg in Jan – very exciting although not so much about the flight with Guy on her own – much admiration from me and I am sure it will be fine as long as he dozes off.

Sunday we went to a christmas party at Rachels  in Weybridge, Santa was there (well Toby did a good job in the costume) and Ted has not put his bear from Santa down yet! Lots of food and champers we both overdid it – especially Ry who had only just recovered from his last 2 weeks worth of Christmas functions. Poor Ted skipped his nap so by 4 when we left he dropped off instantly in the car and when transferred into the house he didn’t even open an eye. I baked cookies (from scratch – they are not bad!! but need less baking powder and more cinnamon) and we sorted out some more decorations and put up a shelf and so on before getting Ted up at 6! He still went to bed on time and slept all night so it was fine.

Today I ams truggliong to get into work (hence blogging on the job), so far I had to come in late to let the cleaner in, dropped ted off and took a bunch of stuff to the recycling centre (IKEA boxes filled out bin and the recycling men won’t be here for a couple of weeks!). Have done some admin but really need to get stuck into some tasks…. am feeling to Christmassy and wondering about where I can get a fresh turkey at this late stage and whether to nip into Waitrose in Staines at lunch or when I have picked up Ted to try and get one. Right – half an hour til lunch so I must get on!

Whats the point in having a phone,two phones in fact if you don’t hear them ringing

Guess who is out and not picking up – despite a conversation two days ago about the importance of being able to at a minimum feel your phone ring in your pocket….in one ear and out the other, or simply in the ear thats not listening, or maybe in a slightly drunk ear thats forgotten in the morning, whatever the reason its really very annoying.

Good week in all, as got work done, got christmas shopping done (mostly apart fro turkey and fresh veg and the like). Bunked off work early today to take ted to see GW and Gpa who has come back from France to look after GW while she was poorly and for a few parties before he heads back to France for another month. Ted was glad to see him (as was I ) and he seemed very relaxed and well, and GW much recovered after nasty bug, well enough to knock up a smashing roast which Ted was thrilled with – especially the broccolli which seems to be preferred veg of the month, he ate his, had seconds and then ate mine, also had sprouts, lamb, parsnip, tato and mint jelly so he did pretty well!

Tomorrow off for lunch with Z and P and G which will be really nice and then Sunday to a Christmas party with Rach in Weybridge – Santa is going to be there so will be interesting to see what T makes of that – Santa came to nursery today ad gave him a book so that was a bonus.

Off to bed without bothering to try ringing R again because after all – whats the point, and it will only serve to wind me up that hes still not picking up. Sorry GP (he is your son after all!!) but I expect GPa P has his moments too! xx to GPa P who has done nothing to deserve such slander :O)

Cursed ear infection – another 20 days of antibiotics

After 5 days I was sure we were over it but on Wednesday I got the Calpol call – the temperature was back and ear tugging was going on, I called the doctor, who summoned us and after some discussion we are now on 4th round of antibiotics – twice a day for 20 days! Poor lad – he is not in any pain but its nto good for him to be on antibiotics for 2 months – which is what we will be up to by the time he is done. Still if it naisl the infection that will be something. If not I am going to ask for a referral on our private medical for him. The doctor was thinking maybe it was viral, but having established that his temperature goes down once he is on the antibiotics it confirmed that it is most likely bacterial and as a result the ant b’s are the right thing.

It did mean we had a good day off today, got all the larder shopping done for Christmas lunch – all the dry goods so jsut the fresh things to buy next week. We also finished his christmas shopping in Mothercareworld.

Big news of the day is that I baked cookies – thats the first time in 36 years I have made biscuits. To be fair it was from a packet mix not from scratch and I managed to overcook them so they are crispy no soft but at least its a start!

Heres some pics from the pub where we went for Rys birthday lunch on Sunday

Happy birthday honey

Rys birthday today and he got 2 cards from Ted! One this morning which I had chosen for Ted to give, and one which he made at nursery – which is much more stylish! We had a good weekend, lots of chores done, new kitchen table and stools which leaves more space to use the oven and get to the fridge – which has been bugging Ry for months, some new storage for Teds playroom and a little table and chairs for him to sit up and have his sandwiches or do drawing and colouring, then a whole bunch of other stuff – yes we went to IKEA – on the second Sunday before Christmas – that was after going to Kingston on Saturday – gluttons for punishment.

Ted was finally back in the pool for swim class on Saturday and he did great which was a relief. It was good to catch up with all his little friends and it seems everyone has been suffering. Back to work and nursery today was all fine, although the three people who sit nearest to me have all had very recent bouts of the norovirus – winter vommiting flu – which is apparently now sweeping the nation, just as the two week flu has passed… I am taking no chances and plan to work from home tomorrow, and I have told the nursery that the first sign of a case and I want them to let me know as I am really not wanting our Christmas or New Year to be blighted by a vommiting bug and a) if he gets it it will be horrible for him, but b) if he gets it there will be no chance that I don’t get it! I am thinking maybe Ry had it and thats why he was so poorly the weekend before he came down with the chest infection.  I have alot of paperwork to catch up on, and need to do a grocery shop, and have a doctors appointment in the morning so it will be easier not to be in the office, plus I don’t want to take Ted to the surgery (germs) or to the supermarket where he will no doubt suck the handle of the shopping trolley – and even though I take anti bac wipes everywhere and wipe the handle down I am rpetty sure its pretty grim. It will take me an hour as well instead of two.

Alita the housekeeper came today and is coming every monday for a month now which means the house will be kept nice over Christmas and New Year without me having to do too much cleaning. She does such a great job and the house is imaculate now – well to me anyway – Ry has somewhat more exacting standards.

We have booked a long weekend away in the new year – we were planning CentrParcs but have found a place in Pembrokeshire called Bluestone which is more rustic but still has a lagoon pool and bike trails and so on

We had a couple of meals out at the weekend – Minnow on Saturday which was a little disappointing compared to how it has been in the past. However, the roast at the Anglers Retreat on Sunday was very special and great value so we will be back there for sure. I took a load of pics of small fry and will try and get them up on the blog in the next day or so. Now tis time to hit the hay – I jsut hope I don’t snore so much I wake up and find Ry in the spare room again. Since my sinusitis my snoring is much worse.

Work work work and Ry is out out out

Its been busy (and a little lonely) this week as work has been full on so long days and lots to do, and Ry is in his December cycle of silly season meaning I haven’t see him since Monday morning really as its drinks her and there – tonight there is some function at the Waldorf, which just means its all down to me with Ted at home in the evenings and by the time he goes down its all I can do to crash in and armchair with a bowl of soup watching sex and the city reruns. I think he has something on tomorrow as well. I sometimes wonder what would happen if I had a bunch of functions I wanted to go – luckily there are not that many and being a non drinker socials in the pub are not my bag. Still I am feeling the disparity in terms of responsibilities this week somewhat. I have given myself a break on Friday though, will be getting my hair done and dropping in on GW on the way back, and getting some things out of the way before the weekend.

Ted is going to have his last 2.5mls of anti b tonight and I am praying the ear infection has cleared up. He sometimes gets a red ear still but GW pointed out that it could relate to his big teeth which are still coming through. He is going through a mega cuddly phase which is very cute and his language is coming along. He was singing Twinkle twinkle to himself with the musical book at nursery today which is new, and everyday we are starting to hear sounds that are closer and closer to words. I am debating swimming on Saturday – we will see, we have alot to do and part of me wants to give him a week to make sure he is over it, but he has missed 4 sessions now (although last week was cancelled) and I am keen for him to keep it up, maybe we will just try and minimise water in ear and not go underwater at all.

Have a bunch of things to do – including booking centreparcs which I haven’t done yet, will do that this weekend too.

Right – bed and book

Lovely weekend for Ted, congratulations Lolabel

Lots of activities for the Ted on the weekend. Saturday Daddy had arranged to go mountain biking with Oliver and friends so Ted and I went to vist Rach who lives in Weybridge so I could have some coffee and a gossip and so Ted could play with Leah and Grace. Lovely girls – Leah at one point said she would liek Teddy to be her little brother which was sweet. We had a good chat while the kids ran merry hell around the playroom and kitchen and then had a trip to MothercareWorld in Brooklands to do some Christmas shopping and pick up gifts for the Lolabel for her third birthday. Home just before Daddy got back and we all had dinner together.

Sunday Daddy had to work so me and Ted went to Uncle Dan and Aunty Emmas for Lolas party. Ted had a great time with all his cousins and it was great to see all seven of them together – even if it was tricky to get a shot of them all in one frame. Lola had a lovely birthday, Roobs is walking already and is very steady on her feet, Sam and Joel are tall as you like, Ammers is a tiny pixie sized princess and Charlie is mini Barns.  They all had a great time decorating the tree and Ted loved playing chef with Charlie and hooning round the place with Lolas hoover! I think we might have to buy him a kitchen for Chrsitmas as I know he plays with the one at nursery all the time.

He had a bath and got jamad up at D and E’s and had a bottle and story and then I loaded him up and drove him home – transfer to bed was seamless and he was clearly so knackered he slept until 7 – I woke up at half six and thought it must be the middle of the night because he hadn’t woken and then couldn’t work out why I couldn’t get back to sleep – its because it was actually morning already!!

So here are all the pics

Getting ready for bed again

Had a long day, sorted the lock out – sort of – well Ry stayed home until a guy cam who at least got the door open and the outside lock working properly – but ultimately we need a new one which he has to order. Work was ok – but a little bit flat and theres alot of little irritations which  get on my nerves on a daily basis.

Ted is fine and had a good day at nursery which was good, and is settling much more easily at bedtime. Tonight I have done a bunch of ironing – which I hate and Ry was home late and grumpy after a long day so we are all just feeling abit rubbish. I think I am still recovering from that virus which has hit everyone ahrd and might be the reason Teds ear infection is persisting so much. Hopefully this time it will go as this Saturday will be the 4th swimming lesson he has missed out of this series of eight. 30 pounds down the toilet.

Think I am going to retire with my book and feel glad that today was at least a little better than yesterday.