Saturday 31 May 2008

Big update

Heyhey! Its Saturday morning and I'm fighting the urge to nap while William does. Zzzzzz. Not sure why I'm so tired as William's sleep has been fine recently. Ah well. Here's all the news.......

1) House. WE FOUND A HOUSE!!!! Last weekend we had a looooong wkend in Herne Bay with my parents, with multiple house viewings. We saw some really lovely places - all soooo much bigger than anything we could afford here. But there was one house I totally fell in love with the minute I stepped inside it! Unexpectedlly, it's in Herne Bay, where my parents live......we really wanted to live in Whitstable as it's a bit hipper and so lovely - but Herne Bay is lovely too!
So, the house.....it's £950 per month and is MASSIVE. I'm talking huge here. Front and back garden, big entrance hall, massive kitchen, big conservatory/playroom leading to the garden, dining room, lounge and 4 bedrooms. FOUR!!! And it's a house with character - built in 1903, with fireplaces and everything. I hate faceless modern builds.
As we were walking round, I was getting more & more excited. I could totally see me and the kids here, in the playroom, going out to the garden in the summer........having friends round for a BBQ......it just felt so right. And the street is lovely too - big wide pavements, residential-y.
And the landlord! What a sweet man. He said he'd be happy to put a fridge/freezer, washing machine and a dishwasher in!!!! Best of all, it's 10-15 mins walk from the beach, park,town, leisure centre AND a soft play area!!
So after seeing this house, my judgement was clouded. Every other house we saw was far inferior. To me anyway. The only slight problems with this house were: a) it's not Whitstable and b) it's a long walk to the station. And Mike will still be commuting to London every day for work, and we don't have a car. But he's going to bike it! So I think it will work out fine. It will be slightly bizarre being in the same town in my parents - we weren't expecting that! But we're looking forward to having the option of babysitters occasionally so we can get some coupley time. The last time we went out to dinner was August last year. I kid you not. And the cinema? Before we even moved to Maidenhead - probably 2005!!
They're doing our credit checks at the mo - but after that, we should get the go ahead and the house will be OURS!!! I'm so so excited-our moving date is 4 weeks TODAY!!! I think I'm going to be really really happy there. :-)

2) Eating. I'm eating so much junk at the mo. I'm becoming much more aware of what crap is in most foods - mostly because I always scruitinise the ingredients of everything William eats. Never bothered me before but as I approach 30 (eeeeek!!) I want to subtley make a shift towards a more healthy lifestyle. Don't most people do that when they reach 30?? I worry about the junk I consume - so when we move, I want to make a big conscience effort to get more organic, home-grown fruit & veg - which will be easy, as they have lots of farmer's markets down there.

3) Childminding. Still sucks. I have just 2 more weeks left with Rebecca, and 4 with Louis. Yipppeeeee! Stupid OFSTED want to come and expect me though, which is completely nonsensical seeing as a) we're just about to move and b) I'm going to have at least a year off from it when the baby is born. Trying to think of ways to get out of it at the moment.

4) William. Is still my happy little boy. He's amazing me at the moment with how much he knows. He knows his numbers up to 12, all his colours, and most of the letters in the alphabet!!!!
His sleep is better, although he's being a little fussy with some of his foods - refusing to eat stuff that he's always loved, which is bizarre. He's still very demanding of my attention and likes to be watched all day, every day. Which can get a little wearying. If I'm not watching him, he says my name until I do! I'm sure he'll get more independent as he gets older. I think he's super bright, but I'm a little biased!

5) Pregnancy. And sexiness. I feel about as sexy as a sack of spuds right now. Big bump, big veiny boobs, big ass, greying maternity bras, big granny knickers. Hello boys! Not surprising seeing as I'm 26 weeks pregnant I guess. Been thinking recently though about sexing myself up again when this baby is born. Well, when I finish breastfeeding probably. I'm going to lose all the weight from both pregnancies, get some sexy underwear and nice clothes, sort out my old & decaying makeup, and make my hair half presentable at least. Until then, it's slob city!

Right, Mike wants the internet so I'd better go. Laters my lovelies xxxxxxxxxxxx

Monday 19 May 2008

Typing at the speed of light......

........cos although both kids are asleep, I know one of them at least is going to wake up in a mo, and really i should be doing stuff like prepping dinner blah be blah....
No Louis today cos he's on holiday. Yay! Much easier with just 2.
We had a really, really lovely family weekend! On Saturday lunchtime after William's nap we caught the bus into town and all had lunch at noodlebar - man, I'm going to miss that place when we move, and so will William I suspect! We then whizzed off to the library - one of William's very favourite places! - where he read lots of books with daddy and we got some more out for him. Daddy then took him to cheeky charlies soft play while I did some quick food shopping! Phew! It was a lovely, busy afternoon and William had a blast!
Yesterday after William's nap we headed off to the annual Maidenhead Duck Derby!!!!! It was so much fun although poor Sausage had a bit of a cold and was a bit grumpy. We had an ice-cream, William and I rode the train round Ray Mill Island (he LOVED that), we had a few gos on the stalls, and watched punch and judy. It was great! After a walk along the river we headed home - William was getting REALLY grumpy by then. After my favourite dinner of fajhitas we watched Into the Wild - man, what a film. I couldn't stop thinking about it when I went to bed. Still can't, actually. I'm really fussy about films, and rarely watch them, but this one........it was brilliant!
William was very restless during the night as his nose is so stuffed up. Not much I can do except put Vicks on his chest and olbas oil in the cot. Still, he's been happy as ever this morning so I don't think (touch wood) he's ill really! After months of ignoring the vast majority of his toys, he's actually playing with them again! We had them all out this morning. He especially loves his newish alphabet & number puzzles!
Gotta tutor this evening which means racing to get William to bed by 7pm......tricky these days, especially as he naps later. Hurumph. Think we'll head off to the park for a good run around when he wakes up; should wear him out a bit.
Something feels wrong down there. It's either thrush or cystitis........or maybe both. Yuck. I think I'm going to have tro go and get it checked out at the docs.....cringe. Wish they weren't all bloody male docs.
Right, I'm going to try and do a couple of jobs before the kiddywinks wake up. Adios amigos....xxxx

Friday 16 May 2008

Chipper!

Friday afternoon! Peace has descended on the house as both boys are napping. I could easily nap myself right now - not sure why as I slept pretty well last night due to William.........(drum roll please) SLEEPING THROUGH!!! I think this might actually be the first time EVER that he's done this. No waking for milk, water, or anything. He slept soundly from 7.30pm to 6am!! Helps that it's cooler now and there was no need for the noisy fan in his room. I'm not holding my breath - almost certainly it's a one-off, but YAY, all the same!
This week:
1) Everyone now knows we're moving to Kent. I told Louisa,. Louis's mum (who wailed about this being her 'worst nightmare' - Jeez, thanks for the guilt trip) and Deirdre, Julia and the rest of the girls (who were sad but completely understood).
2) Rebecca's mum has told me she wants Rebecca to finish with me on the 15th June!! This is great as it's only 4 more weeks; it's not so great as I'll miss out on 2 weeks pay. But Mike thinks that will be ok & we'll manage.
3) Our new move date is 28/29th June. NEXT MONTH!!! We're going down to Whitstable next Friday to find a property hopefully..........*crosses fingers*

I'm so, SO excited about our move! I've got a permanent pre-holiday-excited feeling. It feels like the beginning of a new era......life will be so different and (I hope) wonderful! I can't wait to live by the sea. And no more yucky childminding for at least a year!! I feel nervous about having no income but according to Mike I'm entitled to maternity allowance as I've been self-employed, which is about £450 per month - plus we're saving like crazy. Gotta sort all the money stuff out this weekend to make sure we're ok.
And this weekend, blissfully, we haven't got to go anywhere - a nice chilled out family weekend. Yay!
Right, better skiddadle. Laters peeps xxxxxxxxxx

Wednesday 14 May 2008

Dear Sausage

A little letter to celebrate your cuteness!
So, here we are at 20 months, and 2 days. You'll be 2 in 4 months - EEK! How did that happen?! I've loved watching you grow up little man. But this is my very favourite stage, right now. You've been through clingy stages, whingey stages, refusing-to-be-held-or-even-around-anyone-who-isn't-mummy/daddy-stages (man, THAT was stressful.....) but right now you are just so HAPPY! Everyone who meets who comments the same. You wake up full of beans and excitement (usually by calling 'mumma! mummmmmmaaaaaaaa'!') and pulling at your sleeping bag to get it off. That continues throughout the day! You laugh loads (sometimes manically - it's so funny!) and have never-ending energy, running about the house! It can get exhuasting but I'm so, SO glad you're like that and not all placid and boring! You love life!
Your vocabulary is HUGE. I can't list here all the things you can say; it's just so much! You can repeat most words you hear and are starting to put sentences together: 'night night mumma' (that melts my heart....). You know all the colours, numbers to 10, and lots of letters. You're a real bright spark.
Your favourite things to do are: reading, going to soft play, the park (especially the 'fimbs' (swings), the beach down at Beaky and Rav's, drawing, helping mummy with jobs around the house (turning on the washing machine etc), running around in people's gardens......you do play with your toys a bit but usually there are far more interesting things to do!
Your sleep is erratic, to say the least......always has been! You're still waking, and having some milk, in the night - but I don't mind too much, as long as it's only once or twice. You have 1 nap in the day, usually after lunch at 12.30-1pm, for anything from 1.5 hours to 2.5 hours.
Your hair is crazy at the moment - all crazy curls! I can't bear to cut it. You absolutely love it when we're all together as a family, pointing to us and saying 'mumma! Daddy!'. You ADORE your daddy and get so excited when he comes home.
I love you so much Sausage. I'm so glad I've been at home with you since you've been born. I can't bear to miss out on a second of your growing up. Soon you're going to have a little sibling, but you'll always be my very special firstborn........
all my love, Mumma xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Thursday 8 May 2008

GLORIOUS sunshine!

Oh My God, I love, love, LOVE this weather!!!! It's so wonderfully hot and sunny, with blue skies and a lovely summer breeze............it just makes me so happy!!! I'm definitely a summer girl. It's no wonder us English are such miserable people - we have such a long winter. But this makes up for it!!
This week, despite Mike not being here, has been lovely - mostly because of the weather! On Tuesday afternoon I took Rebecca and William to the park in the sunshine - we had a blast and Sausage kept on trying on my shades - he looked sooooooooooooo cute!
Yesterday morning we dashed off into town at 9am for my midwife appt. at 9.30. All ok there - despite me thinking I'm massive I'm measuring spot on for my dates (23 wks now!!!). Heard heartbeat which was reassuring as always. Then we went to the library which William always loves - he's such a bookworm! - and to buy him new shoes, which took forever as he has a high instep and loads weren't fitting properly.
And yesterday afternoon I FINALLY told Rebecca's mum that a) I'm pregnant b) we're moving to Kent and c) that June will be my last month with Rebecca! And it was FINE! Why was I worried?! She was made redundant on Tuesday so things would have changed anyway.
This morning we went to playgroup again in the sunshine - William was a bit grouchy but cheered up when he did some painting (on an easel like a grown up!) and played in some bubbly water. He loves being outside. And now both babies are napping and Julia's coming over in an hour or so - we're taking the kids to the park.
So I feel all sunny & content. I suppose the only thing bothering me is our forthcoming trip to Plymouth on Saturday, for many reasons. I'm dreading seeing all of Joyce's stuff, I really don't want to visit the open casket but don't want to offend Mike by not doing so, there's the funeral on Monday............*sigh*. Not to mention the loooooong car journey with William. I just need to be there for my husband I guess.
I need to do a William entry, all about him and his little ways soon. He's been sleeping better this week. He tends to wake around 10-11pm and I usually give him a milk top-up, but if he wakes again in the night I only give him water now - he was drinking stupid amounts of milk in the night. He usually wakes at least once more but I can generally settle him quickly. His nursery, as the hottest room in the house, is like a furnace in this weather - temp was 27 degrees last night! The fan doesn't really help- just blows the hot air about!
Right- better get on. Toodleoo for now.............xxxx

Tuesday 6 May 2008

Despite everything.....

............we had a lovely weekend.
I was very blue on Friday when I wrote that last entry. On Saturday morning Mike drove back from Plymouth. He was exactly as I expected. It was so good to give him a massive hug. After some half-hearted discussion about what to do over the bank holiday weekend (man, I'm so bored of Maidenhead now-and so is he) we decided to go to Beaky and Rav's for the weekend - as was previously planned! They live in Herne Bay by the sea! We got there at about 3pm and had a lovely, lovely few days. It was perfect as it really took Mike's mind off everything! The weather (unusually for bank holiday) was wonderful - sunny, warm, and gorgeous.
We:
* Went to Whitstable harbour - I love that place, with its gorgeous fish market and cute little stalls! William even paddled in the sea! He loved all the stones and picked out shells too! We all had ice-creams -even William!
* Walked along Herne Bay seafront.
* Went to Herne Bay and sat on the beach. We bought William a bucket and spade which he loved - Beaky showed him how to make sandcastles! We also walked out to the 'spit', and ate ice-creams! Again!
* Went out to dinner at a gorgeous pub and had Sunday roasts. William's routine went totally out the window and he ate dinner with us about 7.30pm! He loved being a 'grown up' and ate a ridiculously big dinner, including shedloads of gravy and cranberry sauce!
* Went to the Whitstable May Day fair in the Whitstable castle grounds- which was fab. We saw morris dancers, maypole dancers, and got William two balloons (including an IgglePiggle/ Upsy Daisy one) which he loved. He also loved playing in the fountains!

All in all, a lovely weekend. I love Whitstable and Herne Bay so much. Not long to go til we're there........
Beaky (or 'Beat' as William calls her!) and 'Rad' were bowled over by William's cuteness and funniness. I may be biased, but my little boy has such an amazing character - I'm so proud of him.
Mike's back in Plymouth now - he drove back this morning. I was a bit concerned about him going back - after being totally away from it all - but he had to go back. He's back on Friday to pick me up, and then we're all going back on Saturday for the funeral next Monday.
Today is gloriously sunny and warm! I'm wearing a skirt! At playgroup this morning all the toys were outside - it was lovely! My plan is to take the kids to the park this afternoon - when William wakes up. He's had some very short nights recently, going to bed as late as 9pm so he needs to catch up.
I'm supposed to be tutoring at 7pm but I might postpone til tomorrow - I'm so tired.
I HAVE to tell everyone the news that we're moving this week - Rebecca's mum & dad, Louis's mum, and the girls. I can't leave it any longer. It's like a cloud hanging over me - just gotta do it.
Rebecca is crying as I'm typing this. Better go.

Friday 2 May 2008

Drained

....is how I feel right now.
What a week. Joyce died on Wednesday afternoon at about 4pm. Mike rang me straight after in floods of tears. She had just said 'I love you' to them just before she died....having not spoken for hours. My wonderful husband is in pieces, as you would expect. Stuff round the house keeps on making him cry.....like her writing on the calender. I know I would be exactly the same. It's so upsetting hearing him cry - I hate to think of him so upset, I feel so powerless.
He's coming back tomorrow til Tuesday. Yay! William and I haven't seen him since Monday. I think it will do him good to get away from that house with all her stuff everywhere. He'll then go back to Plymouth til next Friday, come back, pick me and William up and we'll spend Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (day of the funeral) there.
It's all so surreal. Typing this, I still can't believe it's happened. Doesn't seem real. I think the funeral might change that.
Yesterday and today have been rather challenging days. Tuesday and Wednesday I had Beak and Rav over here, which was lovely. William was on top form, and they were bowled over by his cuteness. But the last 2 days William's been really clingy and demanding. It's been so draining - he won't let me so much as have a drink without wanting to drag me somewhere. I'm trying to be as patient as possible, but it's wearying - he's just not been independent at all. And I'm doing all the housey things by myself which Mike normally helps with.......I can't even do the washing up without William insisting I pick him uo. Oh God, typing this, I feel really guilty about snapping at him when I was trying to get him into his pyjamas, and he was playing up. I was just so tired - I didn't mean to. His sleep has gone completely to pot. I can only assume he's a) missing Mike and b) knows something is up. I think tomorrow will be easier, when Mike is back......maybe we could do some nice family things. Have to see what Mike feels like though, obviously.
I really wish Beaky and Rav lived near. They will soon I guess. I'm 22 weeks pregnant, tired, drained, worried about Mike - and I want my mum and dad.
It's 9.43pm, I should probably get to bed, as who knows how many times Sausage will wake me in the night. Was there once a time I used to go out drinking and clubbing on a Friday night?! It was a different me...........even more unbelievably, was there once a time I used to go to bed and actually wake up the next day? With no interruptions? That I can't believe..........