Biggest has just learned to ride a “proper” bike and it brings tears to my eyes whenever I see him ride it. Although he says he prefers tarmac. But he is also an expert on Jens Voigt and has been coaching smallest to say yes when asked if Jens is his favourite bike rider.

Smallest is starting to talk and also does kisses now. Thankfully he has moved on from open mouthed ones.

am more often called skinny than fat

because the majority of the UK have no idea what skinny or fat looks like any more. Apparently 81% of women my age are bigger than me. I’m a 39 year old size 10.

23. I’m 5ft2 and 124 lbs, so that’s about right, over where I like to be but not overweight. I am most like someone from Gambia.

White wine not so much. more than one gin = very shouty indeed.

Anyways, for us, the point of a monitor (especially with video) was that it meant we didn’t need to go in for every little cry or noise.

we don’t without one. :D

we generally go dover-dunkirk at 2 am or something and generally costs under £100.

we ditched ours fairly early on with no2 as unless your house is huge you can hear the baby crying anyway.

We were at the Dales Bike Centre and watched up Grinton Moor, just after the 1k to go banner. Had an amazing time, well worth it for “30 seconds” if you ask me. The whole thing was incredible. We live right by the A61 so decided to drive the route up there to see all the decorations etc, saw the Trek team out by Otley on the way there on Thursday.

The atmosphere up on the roadside was just incredible, and although we were up there from 10.30ish, both boys were quite happy just hanging out, running around and talking to people, watching the bikes and motorbikes and everything.

All in all, one of the best weekends I’ve ever had to be honest.

Dales Bike Centre here too. The boy is very excited about the Lego Movie and the bouncy castle. Not so much about the bike bike race.

but it’s totally normal for babies to not want to be put down, they are used to constant comfort and noise from being inside and it’s a bit of a shock to the system to be in the big wide world.

Is he more comfortable upright after feeding? could well be reflux. Reflux babies often want to feed a lot because sucking and milk soothes the pain, but then after they feed they are worse again.

My son has recently started asking why I don’t have a mummy and I cannot bring myself to explain to him that she died when I was a child. I do not want a 3 year old to have to know that mummies are not always there. Every time I think about him knowing that I cry.

hurrah!

My friend and I planned to strava her dog and me on the same walk to see the difference in distance between the two. Not got round to it yet. I’ve only ever strava’d running, clearly not trying hard enough.

You’re supposed to aim for 10k steps which is 5 miles I think.

I don’t actually ride a bike any more (well a grand total of 26 miles done last year on one feeble roady outing, this year so far 0 miles), so I won’t be doing any converting. I am doing some running though and have 2 10Ks entered in June and July and am pondering a half, so that should get my steps up a bit. I’m quite interested to see how 3 x days in an office will compare to 4 x days sitting with my feet up drinking coffee running round after two smalls though.

I lost mine the day before Christmas eve in a car park in town. Someone found it and rang GF’s work as i had his business card in there, left his name and phone number. Got it back within an hour. I was so relieved. All he said was “it’s not the right time of year to be losing stuff like this”.

congratulations :)

2 boys here, boys are awesome :D

As people have kids later in life & if their kids do the same, they are going to be faced with both a young family & aged parents to deal with all at the same time.

my dad is 80, my children are 3 and 1.

good news :D

Yeah my partner has always been like this, and lashing out is hitting. Not often but when very angry yeah she hits.

You need more help than STW can give you I think. if the tables were turned and she was the bloke, would you put up with this? I woudn’t, I’d be calling the police and kicking him out. If you want to save the relationship, you need relate or similar.

Any childminder should accept all vouchers, it’s dead easy to set up (have just gone through it again as have changed cm). you are right on the reliabilty / sickness etc.

But we’re sidetracking (although that £140 a month may tip the balance for a lender?) :wink:

ps thank you nemesis.

Wow that’s high! Even when we were both FT our monthly bill was 854 for our first. That was a childminder though. Not sure what nurseries cost in our area as I didn’t look at any (not many that I could get to with the times we needed and those I could didn’t have a great rep).

Obviously, a childminder would’ve been cheaper, but then who watches the watchmen?

Ofsted, same as nurseries.

Childcare costs will be a big factor too, are you doing all you can to reduce them eg both claiming the max childcare vouchers? Will your bill reduce in 6 months when child gets their 15 free hours?

This is something that’s been hour my mind a lot recently. My dad has just turned 80 and lives 350 miles away (a 6 hour drive). He gave us and his wife a major scare last year after his heart valve replacement. the op went fine, but 3 weeks later he collapsed at home and was in ITU for 2 days after 4 units of blood because of an ulcer bleed. they realised that they are too far away from family (stepbrother is up north too) and are talking about moving back up this way, and into a flat for easy maintenance rather than house with massive garden etc.

Having to finally admit they are “elderly” rather than middle aged is hard for all of us, but you need to face reality. At least if they are only over the M62 we can see them every weekend if we need to rather than twice a year.

At what age did people start the controlled crying .? Sweajnr1 is 7 weeks old and doesn’t sleep for more than an hour at a time and probably only 10 hours total. We’ve been told that have to go with it for 16 weeks at least but some of these stories make me apprehensive.

I think it is recommended not till 6m minimum, but you can encourage good sleep behaviour without doing it and way earlier than 6m. Personally its not for me but I know plenty who have used it sucessfully. no 2 is 11m now and has just started sleeping 7-5 some nights in the last few weeks, he’s always been a better sleeper than no1 was though.

7 weeks is tiny, and will only just be working out night from day and will barely know they are not still inside. Things change all the time at that age don’t worry.

A re-resurrection as by co-incidence I was just looking at La Chapelle in annecy and this thread came up as a result in my google. Is the lake ok for swimming in then for a 3yo and 1yo? I would have thought it would be freezing?

Does anyone have any recommendations for sites in the Dordogne as well?

amazing. thanks for linking.

its a combi.

but then you would use less when filling a bath / sink if it’s hotter?

Oh yeah I forgot. And I’m friends with IHN too on there.

Obviously I’ve been keeping in touch with the most witty and intelligent via the medium of FB and Twitter so am not too astounded today Binners.

We’ve just got him his first proper bike :)

I might think about doing so given the amount we are paying in childcare for 2.

Bbeen meaning to email you Domino.

Yes, I get time to fart about drinking cups of coffee at work, 6 days in and the novely of not being followed to the loo hasn’t gone yet either.

Now that smallsmall will actually eat and drink I may well get out on a bike in the not too distant future. I keep seeing your pictures and feeling jealous.

you never know I might even ride a bike again one day :D

No 1 is three and a half and no 2 is nearly 11 months.

“Now we just have loads of not-quite-as-argumentative nobbers “

sounds a bit dull.

Saw this on my FB feed. I’m on north Leeds too so have shared.

The lovely Pennine has just alerted me to this news, very shocking and thank god for those who knew CPR on the ride.

All the very best to you SFB for a speedy recovery.