Facebook.

Hi.

I'm obsessed with facebook. This is why I haven't put much on my blog and everything I put on my blog i have already said on facebook.

School is doing my nut in. It is all about the strike. The kids are fine. It just seems as if I don't have any free time. I'm always planning, marking and sorting stuff. I guess it comes with the job.

Christmas decoration are up.

We have finally got our tree up. The plan was to do it last Friday, but unfortunatly Katies managed to get stuck in a hole. She was walking on the pavement in Hamton and stepped into a water board hole. The cover wasn't on it. She managed to get her foot trapped ballerina style and couldn't get it out. Que the police, firebrigade and an ambulance. Thankfully they got her out, put her foot was a mess and so she went to hospital. We all met her there. Hence why the tree had to wait. She is at dads now, her leg is all strapped up and she can't put any weight in it.
So the Christmas tree went up on Monday. James helped, then stopped for tea and after he went to bed we finished it off. We were worried about he grabbing and pulling it over but so far he has been fine. He doesn't like us tell him no. He just cries at us. He ought to start getting use to it as he will be hearing it for many years. X

London.

We have just been for a lovely weekend away in London. I was worried about taking James on the tube but we managed fine. Everyone was really friendly and loads of people offered to help us. We went to the science museam first, then walked for miles to harrods. Then wandered to the Eye and had a ride. By this time it was night, but we could still see all the landmarks lit up.
On Saturday we went to convent gardens, then walked round in circles for a while. Decided that I wanted to go to Tower hill and catch the dockland light railway to see how the Olympics building was getting on. Unfortunatly it was closed when we arrived. We did manage to see part of the Lord Majors parade. We stayed and watched the fireworks. James enjoyed them. A nice lady told me a had the cutest baby.
We got back about 11, shattered.
Yesterday we met Janet, Paul, Katies, Rod and Dad for Sunday dinner. It was nice to catch up. James was restless though. X

Chatsworth House

Last Sunday we enjoyed a lovely day at Chatworths House. It was a treat for my Mum as her Birthday was on Tuesday.

Had a lovely day, we went round the house which was lovely, but it was the gardens which were most stunning. I have never been to Chatsworth in Autumn and was amazed to find the gardens so beautiful. I tried to take some photos but they don't do the garden justice.

Getting sorted.

At last we have a washing machine. Picked it up on Sunday from Holly's. Have spend the last 2 days trying to catch up with all the washing, it seems to be everywhere. I have also started to paint the kitchen. It was originally white but because we have half a tin left, it is now magnolia. We had a very mouldy wall from where the washing machine was so have covered it.

Went shopping on Tuesday in Lincoln. John's mum was kind enough to look after James while we went into town. Had a lovely day.

Weekend.

Just have a stonking weekend. Mum had James on Friday and Saturday, so John and I took advantage and when out for something to eat. I ordered steak for the first time, it was yummy. On Saturday when the hangover had disappeared I set off for Hollys, where she cooked a lovely tea, then plaed poker and games in the evening. It was nice to catch up. Lou, Ros, Shel and Vic were all there.

On the way back I called in at Janets and Pauls, it was the first time I have seen Paul since his illness. He looked really well. They were both very chatty.

Pick up the washing machine from Holly and James from mum and was back in time to curl up with John for Downton Abbey.

Scary.

James gave us a fright on Friday. He started insane crying when john was trying to change him, then he started to choke. When I went into the room he was in johns arms really pale and cold and drifting in and out, so we called an ambulance. By the time they arrived James was crawling around. He was still.looking peaky so they took him to hospital I followed in the car. We think there might have been some food left in his mouth from his tea the night before. Worried us. Every thing is fine how, keeping an extra eye on him.
We had noticed that he has a tooth poking through now, that might explain the restless nights.
X

Washing machine.

Washing machine has packed up so have been at mums today using hers. Took James with me, and mum is keeping him there tonight. We had cream cakes with tea, Mum gave some of her to James which he quite happily ate. She ate the cake so there was a tiny bit of pasty and a lot of cream. James dropped something on the floor as she bend down to pick it up he grabbed hold of her cake and stuffed it all in his mouth. I think is might be a magician or a pick pocket when he gets older.

Looking forward to having a lie in and a lovely Sunday dinner with John tomorrow. Hope he is good for her tonight. x

Friday

Has had a lovely day today. James and I went to baby peep and had a lovely time playing. He was a bit wary at first and stuck close by me, I think it was the noise. It didn't take him long before he was exploring all over and pinching all the other children toys. He also has had his first kiss. We were all in a circle and a girl or James age began crawling toward the middle (she made the first move) he went towards her (met over a crowded room) they met in the middle and gave each other a kiss. At least he did try and scratch her eyes out, which is what he normally tries to do.

Then this afternoon Col, Marley and Shel came for tea. James and Marley played nicely each wanting what the other had. Col had James in fits of giggles by making popping noises. Marley very excited by a light up balloon. I made a lovely tea of cottage pie.

Going to mums tomorrow as our washing machine has packed in and the clothes are starting to pile up. I think she s going to have James over night. Not sure she know what she is letting herself in for because this week he has been a nightmare and getting up and wanting to play at 5:30 every morning. We are all shattered.

x

James.

I wasn't sure where to write this post. I'm worried that I will forget the little things about James when he was a baby. So I thought I would write a post to help me remember.

The fact that it was 2 weeks before I figured out that after James had fallen asleep on me after a feed, that I could put him down in his mosses basket. I was worried that I would wake him up, so used to sit with him on the sofa not moving, until I began ache.

The way after I had feed him he would need winding and if he had fallen asleep he would curl himself around my arm like a little hedgehog.

If he wanted feed he would snuffle like a pig on my chest, like a pig finding truffles (little truffle pig).

His first proper food was a rusk in milk, which he had at 4 months. Katie feed him his first banana because I hate bananas, it is one of his favourites now. He first yoghurt was strawberry and he had it at a Roman fort on Hadrians wall.

When he was 6 months old Colleen tried to juggle with him and dropped him on his head. It gave him a black eye.

Up until he was four months old he growled a lot.

After a fed even if he was asleep, when he was finished he would stretch he little arms and curl his legs into an S shape.

Up until 4 months every time he was winded after a feed he was sick everywhere. Not only did we carry spare clothes for James around with us, but also spare for John and I. We use to cover all the surrounding surfaces with muslim cloths, then one under his neck, plus a bid. You never saw the nice clothes he was wearing because he had a bib on. At 4 months we started to fed him, use a small spoonful of rusk and milk after that the being sick stopped and so did the whining. I guess he either had a milk colic or he was hungry all the time.

The way it took us a while to pluck up the nerve to bath him when we first got him home. He had a bath at the hospital and screamed all the way through it. We had a go about 2 weeks after we got him home. We did the temperature that is recommended, still he screamed. The next bath we did we ran the water warmer and he loved it and has loved water every since.

Due to me and James having to stop an extra night in the hospital we ran out of baby clothes. John had to go to Asda and get some before he visited us. He also bought a blue blanket.

Before he was crawling, he used to commando shuffle backwards. John and I would leave the room for a few minutes and when we return we would find him sat up in a different place. We knew he could get about but didn't realise he could sit himself up. Was quite a while before we caught him doing it.

This is all I can think off at the moment.

Off to Bristol this weekend for wine tasting.

x

This week I have manly been...

Have a bit of a busy week. To my suprise I have managed to get all 10 return to work day on school. I even having to turn work down. So things are looking good for October.
We have all been bunged up with colds. James seemed to have got it the worst and is keeping us awake most of the night. Luckly John gets up to him a lot.
Have started Christmas shopping. The we are not going to get James a lot because he won't remember, has gone out of the window. He would probably be just as happy with a new water cup, a cardboard tube and a piece of cheese.
Went to Stanford book fair yesterday, but it was rubbish. It was nice seeing katie. We had lunch and a wonder around, but didn't really like the place and it was a nightmare to get parked.
Went to see Jane Eyre with mum. It was ok. Quite true to the book. It seemed really slow but then the book was. I prefer Jane Austin, there is more humour.
X

General stuff.

Been busy working this week. It is nice to be back. James has started to crawl backwards this week. He looks a bit like a seal out of water. But he is getting better. He is being a bit of a pain at night, because he can wiggle and move around he goes and explores his cot. He ends up stuck at one end telling his head off. Just watching Holby, someone always falls over outside the hospital. 

School.

Had a fab first day. It was in a lovely little school. Pleased it is over with as now I know that I'm ready to go back and haven't forgotten how to do it. Spent this morning ringing a few school to tell them that I am back. I also need to go into town today and go to the bank, boots and it do a bit of shopping.

x

First day of school.

OH Gosh.

Feeling a little nervous today as it is my first day back at school. I sound like I'm 5 years old. I have new trousers which are a rubbish fit, but the only ones I could find, and new shoes which I know are going to give me a blister. I can feel myself getting tense. I have already shouted at John for whistling, but it really wasn't necessary.

At least I'm starting slow an afternoon only. Apparently I'm teaching netball and taking them swimming. Have been on the internet this morning trying to remember how to play netball. Hope the school has a court and balls.

A cup of coffee I think to calm the nerve then off.

Wish me luck.

Katies birthday

Had Katies birthday party last night. We were having a bbq at dads but unfortunatly the rain meant we had to have it in the shed. It was a good night. Ros came down so did Lou. Dad smoked us all out by putting the fire pit in the shed. James went home with mum. Everyone slept in tents in the garden. Spent today recovering. X

Shattered.

Right in a few minutes I'm off to bed. I thought I would write a post first. I'm finding it quite difficult to think of thing to write about. This tells me that I need to start doing more exciting stuff. Tonight for example I played scrabble with John and won. In fact he hasn't beat me yet. I also won at croquet as well.

I have booked a campsite for next weekend for Col, Peter and Vic. We are going to Yorkshire and heading down gaping gill cave system. Though I don't think I will be going as someone need to look after the babies. But I'm defiantly looking forward to getting away for a few days. It is going to cramped in our tent though. As it is a two man tent and there are three of us.

Will take lots of photos to put on here.

Night x

Smell.

Not sure why people sniff babies and say they like the smell. James smells of sour milk combined with an after smell of talc. Yuck. Also is is half 12 and he has managed to do the trebble (sick, poo and wee). Daddys turn to sort him out next. Off to bed. Night.

Birthday.

Johns birthday today. Lots and presents and cake.

Northern Lights

Apparently the Northern lights were visible last night as far down as Kendal. It is one of those things I would love to see. Put unfortunately I live in a town and therefore visability is rubbish. John is going to keep an eye on reports on twitter tonight and if it looks that there might be a chance of seeing them we might head to somewhere dark to check it out.