EmmaCC

Thanks so much for all the great suggestions - I went for the easel from the ELC in the end (thanks Candj)... and yes, Granny has already bought her the obligatory pink mini micro scooter for her birthday!

Hi, Sorry I've only managed to make the first meeting so far and it's my little girl's 2nd birthday on Saturday so can't make it. Will definately come to the next one though...

My daughter is 2 on Saturday and I'm wracking my brain for ideas of what to buy her,... and also suggestions for relatives who keep asking for ideas when I can't think of any! I'm sure this makes me a very unimaginative mother but does anyone have any ideas?!!

Just wondered if anyone could recommend a website for buying a table and chair set for a toddler (2 year old girl). It's going to have to go in the living/dining room so something tasteful but fun for her would be great... Thanks in advance...

Was great to meet everyone last time... not sure I can make this one but will try. I would suggest Green and Blue rather than Le Chandelier if toddlers are going to be there... lovely as it was last time, it really is not a child friendly place from my experience of taking just one in there...they were particularly unwelcoming, even on a weekday.. nevermind if there are going to be a few of them running round!

Saturday sounds great, looking forward to meeting you all!

I'm also pregnant and went to Peckham Pulse swimming for the first time last night. I'd really recommend it, was the first bit of exercise I've done in 4 months as have been so knackered but it was great! However, if you have the option to go in the day, rather than the evenings then I'd opt for that. last ngiht was pretty busy even in the slow lane and so not sure I'd fancy being heavily pregnant with all those people around me. If you check on the website there's a timetable showing when the adult lane swimming is on ... oh and don't let the lane swimming thing put you off... the people in the slow lane were very slow... if they went any slower they'd stop so don't worry about that!

I'm also working - 4 days a week so a weekend would be best for me too - perhaps a coffee one Saturday? I'd probably aim to come without my toddler as not sure I'd be able to have much of a conversation with her there at the moment!

Hi, I'm expecting baby number 2 at the beginning of January and would also be keen to meet up! Emma

Snowboarder... your last post really made me laugh as my 22 month old girl spent half an hour playing with the gates at the swings the other afternoon..It was hot, I'm pregnant (but not obviously at the moment) so I just sat on a bench and watched her! I'm sure some of the other mums were looking at me thinking that my daughter was a bit odd and I was a v lazy mummy for just sitting on a bench and watching her do it rather than encorouging her to do something more stimulating! But hey ho - whatever keeps them amused for even 10 minutes should be appreciated! x

I'd second A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.. it's such an amazing, moving book. Me and my hubbie loved it so much that we named our daughter after the heroine of the book, a wonderfully strong woman! It's a great read ..about the treatment of women in Afghanistan, which probably doesn't sound too appealing but such a brilliant read. Also the Larsson trilogy.. half way through the 3rd and they're addictive. The other book I'd really recommend is The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen... funny and sad in equal measures!

Just bumping this post up in the hope someone might have a suggestion... I'm also looking for aquanatal classes... any ideas? Thanks

This may be a silly question but do all state schools have nursery places for 3 year olds? If not then is anyone able to give me an idea of which ones do? We're about to move to a different part of east dulwich/forest hill or honor oak and have schools in mind but now think we should also take this into account too?

I'm so glad that I read this thread, particularly your post Nappy Lady ...my baby is 14 months and her eating hablts have changed completely in the last 4 weeks. She used to be a brilliant eater, literally anything I put in front of her... spoon fed and finger food. But 4 weeks ago for no apparent reason she has become really difficult at mealtimes... she will eat weetabix, youghurt and toast until its coming out of her ears but all the other much more nutirtious dishes she loved before (literally used to purr with delight at spag bol, chicken and veg etc) she now refuses to eat (and particularly hates being spoon fed, literally turns her head away and pushes spoon away without even tasting what's on it!) ... it is soooo disheartning when you have slaved over an AK recipe for it to end up all over the floor...tonight I gave her pizza with fresh veg on top (seems a waste at the moment defrosting a fresh meal from the freezer!) which she would previously have LOVED but she threw 1/2 across the room and mushed the other 1/2 into her tray as though polishing it! Honestly, its so frustrating that for the first time in 14 months I actually felt quite angry with her... until I told the story to my mum (doting granny!) over the phone who thought the whole thing was hilarious and I actually saw the funny side! I think as mum I see it as a really important part of my job to make sure she's getting fresh, healthy food and feel I'm failing on this at the moment... I think this thread has actually put my mind at rest that she's just going through a phase... she's lost a bit of weight, but not a worrying amount .. I think it's just the frustration at why she's changed from being a brilliant eater into this... but I guess that's the joy of children once you think you've got something sussed they change just to keep you on your toes! x P.S.She is drinking more milk (cow's milk) surely as a result of eating less ... not sure if I should cut down on this in the hope she'll eat more though seems a buit cruel to do that and not sure it would even work as she sometimes refuses lunch even though it's been 4/5 hours since bottle of milk .. any views anyone?

Good on her for going out...why shouldn't she if her baby is being cared for by someone she trusts? My family don't live close by but we take every opportunity when they're here to go out as a couple and have a conversation that's not interupted by the baby or domestic chores taking over! It also makes you appreciate the baby so much more when you go back! Interesting that no one has even questioned why Wayne was out???!!!! Putting aside possible breastfeeding, he does have 50% responsibility!!!

I walked past mins after it had happened and was told by the woman at the flower shop that the man had fallen into the road and a car had run over his head. It looked very bad. Poor man. I really hope he is OK.

I walked past mins after it had happened and was told by the woman at the flower shop that the man had fallen into the road and a car had run over his head. It looked very bad. Poor man. I really hope he is OK.

I can put you in touch with a colleague who does employment law...have sent you a PM.

Should have also answered the question myself ... I used Aptamil - I based this decision on the fact that this was the formula recommended to me whilst my baby was in the special care baby unit at Kings so I figured it must be the one to use ... have since spoken to friends whose babies were also in special care and they were told to give SMA, so that blows that theory... I'd go with what your baby likes - think they're all pretty much the same...

This person was asking advice on formula - I think you're insulting her intelligence to think she wouldn't have considered expressing and needs you to point it out for her!There is an unhealthy (for the mother) obsession with breastfeeding on this forum sometimes! It is so unfair to add more pressure on a mother returning to work, who has made a decision to stop breastfeeding, by suggesting she should try to fit in expressing ... good on those of you who have managed to do it, but in some work places it's just not possible..and yes, I know legally you can ask for a room/privacy in which to express but the reality of trying to do this whilst getting back into work is very tricky!