bluesuperted

We are getting quotes for four windows in our house - 2 huge 30s bay windows and 2 more normal sized to big windows. The cheapest quote from a recommended source had been Affordable Shutters but not cheap c?3200 for all 4 but haven't had final quote yet and also haven't decided if we can afford!! Although getting nice, lined curtains made for the same rooms with nice poles plus installation would cost a lot too. I see the upside as neat and stylish to look at (IMHO) and fit with any decor or colour changes plus good for resale, bad sides are: dust potential, cost and would be awful if they went out of fashion the way of artex!! I actually find picking out curtain fabric really hard though so that's another big win for plantation (slats) for me!! Have heard avoid Hilary's like the plague - heavy sales tactics and ridiculous pricing. Lots of companies recommended on here elsewhere and mumsnet.

The lovely Shingo at Kuki is brill. ?40 for cut and blow dry and he's really charming :)

We were also recommended two integrated units - one full size fridge and one full size freezer - as an alternative. I do like the American style ones but think it depends on your space available - can look a bit cumbersome as deeper than standard worktops. Having said that I love the Fisher Paykel one as it has freezer drawers! Fab! A good friend of mine said she'd go for more freezer space over fridge space any day and I think I'd agree...

Another Beko condenser drier fan here (did I recommend Belle?) it's fantastic! Don't see how a vented could be better and it goes anywhere. When we redo our kitchen we will move into into cupboard under stairs or possibly into our box room to free up space - so flexible. Have never met a washer-dryer I didn't hate sadly!

I think you'll be fine. I wouldn't bother with a cover just see what baby is like - and you - as some seem more hot-blooded than others! My babies are always hotter it seems so when I wore my son his first winter he didn't need loads on, cardigan, hat, onesie, no vest! Occasionally baby legs on top. I always err on side of caution re too cold rather than too hot though. Also I liked hooded cardis so I can add the hood as an extra later, over the hat I mean. Also the Manduca is quite thick material, not lightweight, so should be quite warm in itself and acts as another layer. Hope this helps!

We are going on a short break in a retro caravan (very excited!) to escape home renovations and have had lots of help from the lady who runs the hire company. Here's the link to her company, Aly is excellent so far, although haven't been in the caravan yet! We are going to Kent as we love Broadstairs. The Nethergong she mentions sounds AMAZING but there was no availability. Sounded idyllic and has a write up in cool camping so if you go there I will be jealous but let me know what it's like! Tempted to get into camping proper in order to go (think they only allow tents). Aly at the Glampervan Hire Company: http://www.love-glamping.co.uk/camper-hire-kent/#.UhpeJKa9LCS Anyway, here are some campsites she recommended as not being too hectic/busy/lairy etc!! "Below are all options I can come up with that are not massive touring parks. None are really like Nethergong, but they are all nice sites with different benefits, in terms of location and facilities. http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/siteseekerlite/aspx/details.aspx?id=7050&returnPage=search.aspx%7cradius%3d20%7clocation%3dcanterbury%7clistViewPageSize%3d10%7csiteTypes%3d1%2c2%2c3%2c5 (Canterbury) http://www.lovecamping.co.uk/campsites/south-east/kent/yew-tree-caravan-park (canterbury) http://www.pitchup.com/campsites/England/South_East/Kent/Birchington/quex-caravan-park/ (Westgate on sea) http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/siteseekerlite/aspx/details.aspx?id=179187 (Sandwich) http://www.pitchup.com/campsites/England/South_East/Kent/Whitstable/seaview-holiday-park___/ (whitstable - maybe a bit bigger with lots of 'statics' but you mentioned she knew we liked the area). She also mentioned Kingsdown campsite near Deal/Dover and on a shingle beach which sounded really great too but not our ideal area as have some friends we'd like to visit close to Whitstable. I for one did not know such a plentiful world of campsites existed!!

I do the sling/walk combo most of the time and occasionally when I'm packing lots of stuff or can't get a bus nice and close I do sling/buggy (Bugaboo bee or umbrella cheapie) with buggy for my eldest. In fact my 5mo has yet to go in a pushchair at all, I just haven't had the need and I'm planning on slinging her til at least 2yo. I don't drive and I can't say I've ever felt I've needed a double. My son was 2.7 when my little girl was born and he's now 3 and about to start preschool - I see us phasing the buggy out completely before too long. Having said that bugaboo bee is lovely and as a sling addict, it's the only one I can really face as it's nippy and lightweight but pushes well and spacious enough for my toddler.

Belle - welcome to try my Manduca as a back carry? Or an ergo back carry (mine on loan at mo though but easy to do) would be great. Would def not recommend a framed carrier as they are so uncomfortable but if you can master back carries in a soft structured T might like the high up vantage point? I like the Castle Bar nursing home entrance on Syd Hill as there is a lovely walk down to bridge and it has a natural 'trajectory' that I think toddlers will follow iyswim? I get the bus there now and 176 goes pretty close. My son crawled off in baby sensory too!! And was planning on taking my daughter in September when my son starts nursery in the afternoons but since she's just over 5 months and been crawling 3+ weeks I don't think there's any point, I think I have another high energy one! I read your post as you intended it Espelli - totally think society's expectations are out of kilter.... I like that phrase about why do we teach our kids to talk and walk then expect them to sit down and shut up?! I definitely think being child led is key as there is nothing you can do really to persuade a high energy child that sitting and looking is preferable to running and jumping. This thread is lovely as it shows how much the mums here are loving and accepting of their kids high octane personalities (although finding this challenging all the same). Lots of thoughtful parenting going on as people play to these strengths... My son is full of beans but also full of ideas and affection, it's a brilliant combination. It's also made me a fitter person - I would never have been half as into being outdoors if he hadnt led me that way and I'm very grateful for this new perspective! Can't say I've read a novel in 3 years but have trekked and climbed and carried and swum and camped with him instead. It's definitely shattering but ultimately I couldn't imagine him any other way nor would I want him to be. Well done to all for simply keeping up!!!

Occupational Therapy I think.

Also in the same position - both my daughter (5m) and my son previously (now 3 and a brilliant car traveller) hate/d the car seat. So unfortunately we avoid long journeys and I meet my husband places by train a lot... Not really feasible for France though - but could you do this to the ferry for example? We have found it totally worth it to keep everyone happy/stress free... She's fine by train, it's the need for cuddles when they are that young that makes car travel horrid for them. When we take shorter journeys we manage it by having lots of chewing things (she has two teeth and teething for more) including some random things she likes holding and looking at, plus I sit in the back and I also lean over and breast feed in the carseat which relaxes her enough to sleep. Have also found she isn't too young to enjoy a hearty round of her favourite song - Nellie the elephant and lots of chat. It's crap sitting in the back of a VW golf between 2 car seats (although my 3yo loves me being there!!) so I sympathise for your partner. I would say that I think it's age related and not directional - my son was bad til over one but we kept him in a rear facing car seat after the infant car seat for safety reasons (incidentally he loved the bigger rearward seat though). Just wanted to say that as extended rear-facing is a different topic but definitely not to be discouraged (and laws slowly coming in to insist on it for longer soon). Hope he grows out of it really soon, it's horrible and I re really feel for everyone involved!

Realised I'd be a rubbish house sitter though as am allergic to dogs and cats! Which I guess is main reason people want them, so unless ppl seeking gerbils or rabbits to be taken care of, we are probably of little use :)

Love the blog post B, thanks for sharing! You are so not alone!

Undiscovered what a fab idea, we'd have loved that this school holiday... Any takers for house sitters in October half term?!

We use Mark Cornelius at MDL and he has been fantastic. His number is 07887 558901. Super responsive and knows the market really well. He can also do trickier cases as I'm self employed but low earnings and my husband is a teacher. They do take into account your previous three years though so as long as you mention maternity it should be all right.

Following! It's really hard isn't it? We need to make a neutral large-ish room for our toddler boy and baby girl to share at some point... Really don't want to be boyish or girlie either. Interesting questions about future needs of older children as well...thanks for starting K!

Oh and I forgot this book: http://www.whsmith.co.uk/Products/The-Bedtime-Collection-Stories-Rhymes-and-Pictures-for-the-Very-Young+Paperback+9781408305423 It's fantastic, lots of well loved authors (Julia D, Shirley Hughes, Benjamin Zephaniah, Roger McGough), illustratora and poets have contributed towards this book and the variety is great for pre-bedtime and parents not getting sick of the stories. Lots of them have a bedtime theme and we still recite the poem 'nudey dudey' at bath time as we all loved it! It's an absolute bargain too - was created with Surestart in mind.

Second all Julia Donaldson books, perfect wind down books, my favourite is Stick Man. Barefoot books are lovely too - gorgeous illustrations and very calming ;) two lovely pre-bed ones are Listen Listen (about the seasons) and 'I took the moon for a walk' - we have both in board book versions.

Well I'm keen on all ages I've experienced so far (eldest 3 next week) and am excited about the future ages too.. But 3/4 kids my max despite this! I do love the baby stage and know many aren't as keen - wonder if those with bigger families prefer the early years/months rather than wanting them over quicker. I am writing this while my not-yet 5 month old crawls around the lounge picking up and disregarding various toddler toys.... She's growing up far too quickly for my liking.

Hey BB, nice to see you in the park today! Here's the link I mentioned: http://stillparenting.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/they-dont-remember.html?m=1 It's lovely. I particularly like the bits about 'loving them before they know themselves' and reframing our role in later years as helping them to write their own stories. But as I said, regularly struggle with this too, and do wonder if more babies is the route I'll take!!

Slightly different circumstances but my mum and sister coslept with my then 2y 7m old when I went into labour/hospital with my daughter. He was fine, bit comfused the second night and woke a few times but happy to be cuddled back to sleep, think one night would have been totally fine.

Wow that's such a nice thing to post, thanks from one EDF mum! It is hard but rewarding. But hard! Especially in this heat, with more than one and on the buses. Well done you for doing so much with your two charges! I have my husband off with me at the moment and I think he is now truly realising how challenging it can be to get out and about in this weather with two little ones - and that's with both of us on task! I hope your post helps some mums or dads out there feeling a bit overwhelmed and snowed under by it all to feel proud of themselves. New mums especially. I also recommend reading Naomi Stadlen books, they really helped me transition from life pre baby to pos baby in terms of how you are still working, doing and achieving, just in a very different (and more important IMHO) way than before.

The bit closest to Ladywell Station or Lewisham Park bus stop (after hospital) if you're getting the 185 bus. It's basically the top bit that has the pirate ship playground, cafe and stream although there are some other good sections including a jetty type area in the middle of the fields - hard to explain where that section is, but you walk south from the pirate ship, past the skate park, past a less exciting playground, over a big curling round bridge and then you can see river on your right. Jetty near there.

That's fab news Gina, hooray! x

It may sound silly but used to start feeding, then if baby fell off her latch due to too much milk if take the opportunity to just let the 'tap' flow into a nearby muslin, a cloth nappy inner or blanket or whatever was nearest. Then I'd latch her back on - so I wouldn't rush to put her straight back on if you see what I mean.

Hi Astrid, I take my hat off to exclusive pumpers, it sounds hard work to maintain the same supply through pumping as you would with a nursing baby but people definitely achieve it. Here is a list of resources on Kellymom: http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/bf-links-excpumping/ I have heard the Ameda Lactaline double pump is the best around. I have two friends who pumped exclusively for premature babies (so a different situation with other stresses that could affect things) and they both managed until 4 months when their supply couldn't keep up. There is also a group on baby centre I believe. If you can persevere for a bit longer (thinking in terms of day targets, then weeks might help?) I think you'll find that things (everything not just feeding) get SO much easier at week 6 onwards. Babies know what they are doing a bit, mums feel less overwhelmed etc.