As it's Half Term week we took the opportunity to get down to Oxfordshire today to visit my friend with her "new" baby - I'd not managed to meet her son yet as he was born a mere month after Sophie. It was a bit of a motorway trek, taking in two of the busiest ones - the M1 & M40, and what should have been a 60 minute drive took 90 (and this was out of rush hour!), some of it in heavy rain. She lives in Islip, which has to be one of the most picturesque villages I have ever seen - shame I forgot my camera! She even lives in a thatched cottage - very beautiful! The house was being done up as she was waiting to go into labour (rather her than me) - really beautiful! I had to laugh - she & I first met as nervous 4.5 year olds on our first day at school, and have been friends practically ever since. Our lives have taken us in different directions, but we both ended up having babies at the same time, and are both breast-feeding and using washable nappies - would you believe the SAME brand of washable nappies! (Kushies - which I bought & used with Em and have since been supplementing with Tots Bots fleece wraps and fleece pocket nappies which werent around 4 years ago.)

We went for a walk round the village and ran into a number of other babies (she says there are 12 - must be something in the water!), and after tea I dressed the girls in PJs and loaded them in the car. Sophie had lost it by then and was crying. I should explain that Emma had THE loudest cry. And when Sophie was born she let out such a loud cry that the midwives were surprised by it - seemed perfectly normal to me! So when I finally picked S up to load her in the car, my friend asked "does she always cry that loudly?" "Yes she always has"! I replied. What have I produced - the next Opera Babes or something?!

The journey home was ok except the dvd player malfunctioned (Al later discovered the mute button was pressed in  - doh!) until we got on the M1 when the lightning started. It was pretty busy so I took the opportunity to pull off onto the much quieter M45, and I'm so glad I did. The rain came down torrentially, the lightning went off all around and then the hail pounded on us - it was quite scarey! The roads were flooding, and it looked like it had snowed at one point as the hailstones didnt melt away straight away. I tried my best not to appear too worried, and we prayed out loud a bit, though Emma initially didnt want to be left alone tonight while the thunder storm continued. Thank goodness Sophie slept through both journeys!

We had friends visiting yesterday, which was great except for the RAIN! We went out for a walk in the drizzle in the end.

Then I tried to put Sophie to bed but she just wouldnt settle! I fed her sitting up (as usual) and gently placed her asleep in her cot whereupon her eyes shot open and she started to cry. Dummy refused so I decided a quick feed laying down before she got too worked up ought to settle her. After an hour in total I crept out, leaving her with eyelids flickering. I'd hardly got downstairs when she kicked off, and by the time I got upstairs she was inconsolable. After trying the dummy numerous times, I could feel myself getting really cross so I retreated downstairs hoping she would just cry off to sleep. No such luck! So Alan eventually went in and tried. After a bit I took pity on him and went in and rocked her, after dosing her with dozol (paracetamol & anti-hystemine) just in case. In the end, after an hour of her screaming the house down, I decided that perhaps a comfort feed was in order. I couldnt believe she could still be hungry! She was arching her back a bit, but she had a clean nappy (Alan changed it, so I'm sure!), and the teeth still arent through, so I've no idea what that was. Then tonight she did the same - hard to put down, waking shortly after I got downstairs. So I thought, learn from mistakes and comfort fed her off to sleep straight away. I finally got downstairs at 9.45pm, having started feeding her by 7.45.

So I decided on a quiet day today! The most exciting thing we did was papiermache'd 2 ballons. I told Em when they're dry she can paint them - I wonder what her creative (!) little brain will come up with?

I found this quote yesterday in a leaflet and it's been buzzing around in my brain on and off, so I thought I'd put it in my Blog for safe keeping!

'Do not pray for easy lives, but pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers, but pray for power equal to your tasks. Then the accomplishing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be a miracle.'
US clergyman Phillips Brooks

Don't we all need to be a miracle to bring up our kids? No harder challenge methinks!

Well, here's a hotchpotch of photos:

No, not a family member! I fished him out of a bucket of water in the garden the other night. He's just so beautiful! He's over an inch long (>25cm) and I Googled him and it turns out he's one of our larger insects, a cockchafer beetle. I know that in other countries he would seem small fry, but he's almost in a class of his own here, and I'd never seen one before I fished this one out - thought he was dead. I know it was sad, but I texted Al to bring the camera down the garden to take this!!!

This was taken by my Aunt the other wekkend at my parents house.

Got to go, Sophie awake!

Two naff nights in a row, hmmmm.

Two nights ago I had a headache that made it difficult to sleep. Fortunately (for me!) when DD1 woke up, it was DH who heard her (through an earplug!) not me. She woke up at midnight with a nightmare and 3 with a wet bed (related?).

Then last night DD2 woke up for a feed at 11 and I dozed on the job, putting her in her cot at 12, whereupon she woke right up and wanted to play.  I left her to get on with it after she refused an extra feed a few times. Problem is she's only a few inches from me, and she was squealing with delight as she bashed her Pooh Bear mobile all over the place then reached over and bashed me a few times to get my attention. After an hour I'd fallen asleep numerous times and was not a happy mummy. Happily she finally fed off to sleep! She woke for another feed somewhere between 3 & 4.

Then DD1 woke everyone BUT the baby up at 4.30 sobbing her heart out. She'd been sick = got as far as her closed bedroom door, puked, opened door through it (sorry - too graphic?!) and made it to the loo before the next lot. I did the comforting at the loo and dear dear husband tackled the mess in her room. Finally calmed her, got her a bowl and back to bed, put her Hi5 CD on and left her with her door open, dawn sunlight streaming through it. An hour later we both heard her coughing and sneezing. DH didnt hear the next bit, but I did as Soph was mid-feed - the bowl got it thank goodness! The last lot was at 9am, and she's been ok since.

Unsurprisingly we stayed in today! I've felt a bit queasy, but I can write that off to lack of sleep and headache. Sophie's been out of sorts - ate well at breakfast and dinner but screamed through lunch so I offered her the old feed-sleep-feed-sleep that worked so well with Emma when something was up - kind of worked. With Em of course I'd have napped in the chair with her on my lap. I let Emma play on the Cbeebies website all afternoon, but of course I couldnt sleep, too many questions from my inquisitive DD1!

DD1 managed to sip water all afternoon, suck an icepop at 5 and eat a pittabread for dinner. So far so good!

Well, we're sure getting about - Ipswich one weekend, Chelmsford the next! We went up to Essex on Friday night this time, which was quite a rush after work, and lots of rush hour traffic around Cambridge (only got stuck in one queue thank goodness) and came home on Sunday, getting the girls to bed late. Sophie slept 1.5 hours there and 10 mins back - aaargh! (Its a minimum 2 hours door to door without queues or toilet stops.) She's even more resistant to sleep in cars than her big sister! We challenged Emma as we were nearing our destination on Friday to keep us singing different verses of Old MacDonald had a Farm until we were at Grandma's (about 20 mins) - the old guy even had bees and a landrover, but we did it! It kept Sophie happier too!

We were supposed to see lots of Al's sister who lives locally but just as we arrived her 3 year old came down with Chicken Pox, and as Al, Em & Soph havent had it, that made meeting up awkward. Her eldest two have already had it, so we saw a bit of them, and a tiny bit of my pregnant sil, and her husband at Sunday lunch. However, we were hoping for a haircut from her - no joy - and Em would have loved to play with a cousin her own age (& size!). Oh well, try again later in the year. Al's other sister managed to visit - we hadnt seen her for about 18 months, so that was nice. Her husband even managed to pop by on the way back from a weekend selling at a motorbike rally. Poor guy is very uncomfortable around breastfeeding, & I unwittingly freaked him out feeding Emma years ago. This time he arrived while I was feeding Soph so I made sure I was as covered as possible. He came in, went round the room greeting people incl a peck on the cheek to all the ladies. I was so nervous for the poor guy in case he realised mid kiss what I was doing, but fortunately he had no idea the entire visit. I think someone told him later as I had a texted apology this morning (not needed)!

We went up the Park on Saturday and Em had a great time playing with her eldest cousin (nearly 13 & taller than me since Christmas). Unfortunately she fell down on a loose stone path and grazed the skin on her knee. She got completely hysterical and it took for ever to calm her down (probably 15 minutes of screaming, felt longer) - her 3 boy cousins who were there gave up and got on with playing - what can you do with a screaming girl eh? You can see her bleeding knee on the above pic. It's just weeping now, but bled on & off the rest of the day. She refused to walk - lots of exhausting carrying!

Emma took this pic - cant decide if Grandma's eyes are shut! Oh well, this is my mischievious MIL!

Al sent me this as an email. I just had to share it!

Who says software hasn't got a sense of humour

Follow these steps:

1. Go to www.google.co.uk
2. Click on maps.
3. Click on get directions. (top of screen)
4. Type in from ' Atlanta ' to ' Paris, France '.
5. Scroll down the directions to number 22
(P.S. Don't tell Admin otherwise they will try to save on air fare)

One of the down sides of being away is that it takes a few days to adjust back again. Em & Soph get used to lots of attention, and I cant do that all by myself. Plus they're tired after the poor sleep and the travel. Today Sophs been quite tearful. And Emma had another Tuesday Tantrum. The only difference to the last two is that she didnt hit or kick me, so perhaps that's progress. I've said we will have to leave earlier on Tuesdays and not stay to help tidy up. That's hard on my friends but then they've both had to help me with Emma now, so perhaps tidying away tricycles and other toys alone is preferable.

On the plus side, today there was a little boy with his mum at our Toddler group, and he was getting into trouble for his behaviour. I'm pretty sure he's a High Needs type like Em, so I did my best to explain why he needed to do certain things, rather than just saying "NO!" like everyone else, and he responded well. I also managed to compliment him to his mum - I know how rare those comments can be. My halo feels slightly more shiny right now!

I've just "been home" for the weekend. Actually we worked out I've just passed the mark where I've been left home over half my life.... now I feel OLD! We visited my parents for 3 days (2 nights). The girls didnt sleep well, which was a pity. Not awful though, just means they werent on best behaviour - doh!

We were there mostly to meet up with my Aunt who's visiting from Canada for the first time for 5 years. That was great. We went to see our 98 year old aunt, who is getting very confused, which is sad. I dont want to be 98 ever. Mind you I hope to be my mum's age one day, but not if I'm as confused as her too. Both old ladies have Alzheimers, which is a horrible condition.

Anyway, on that sombre note (always come back from there realising how fast my life is going past) I'll post some pics to cheer myself up!

This, with Emma is her giraffe "Brian" - it took years to attach her to a comforting cuddly (before that it was only mummy!).

Thanks Leith for tagging me!

This took some thinking about... isnt it sad (or aren't I sad perhaps) that the sad/bad stuff is easier to remember?

Anyway, here is my favourite childhood memory - my perfect day. This will date me - those of you the same age as me may be able to relate perfectly whilst those a few years either side will think I'm even more weird!

When I was 8 I was living in Ipswich. Our little town football (soccer) team had made it into the big League under the management of the great Bobby Robson (later pinched by the national team). Then they got to the F A Cup Final - the really BIG one, and everyone in town went football mad, even those that didnt have a clue about football.

At the same time a REALLY important film arrived in Britain - you know, the one with the robots, lightsabers and a Princess with a weird hairstyle - with me yet? Yes, Star Wars had arrived in town! My little brother had seen it and came home raving about it, so my parents agreed to let us go together to see it along with my brother's friend Tommy. The screening clashed with the FA Cup Final, but Tommy's mum worked nearby and there was a TV in the Bar, and we were told we could go and watch the second half in the Bar with her afterwards.

Well, we came out of Star Wars having defeated the evil Empire and blown up the Death Star (well, it felt like we had!) and raced to the Corn Exchange. We were just in time to see our little team score the one and only goal of the match against the giant team, Arsenal. At the end of the match we went running out into the street yelling that we'd won - heck, we'd saved the Universe and won the FA Cup, both against the odds, all in one day - not bad when you're 7, 7 & 8!

We had the Spring Fair in the Park near us yesterday. I'd promised Emma we would go "if it didnt rain" (it was a wash-out last year). Two problems: 1. after a drought month, the rain arrived on Sunday night, and was still going strong all Monday morning (the fair opened at 11), and 2. our friends phoned to ask if they could drive up from London for the afternoon. Fortunately the sun came out just after they arrived, and they were happy to go to the Fair too. Cue happy Emma, as you can see! She especially enjoyed the bumpercars with Al, but their expressions on this pic say it all really!

Soph slept through most of the time at the Park, and was a bit dazed when she came to!

Our friends J & L left late, and I let Soph sleep in my arms as they were keen to see her as much as possible. The wife (J) is a little broody, which even Em picked up on! J took Soph upstairs to say goodnight and goodbye to Emma, and Emma asked if J was taking her home. She explained she wasn't and Emma then explained to her, with perfect 4 year old logic, that she couldnt have her "because mummy is still feeding her and if you do her boobies will get so full they will explode!" I'm slightly touched at her concern for me (!) but a bit surprised that she didnt say "no you cant, she's mine!" - she seems quite happy to give her away really!

Soph is still all over the place with sleep. Sunday night she took 5 feeds by 9pm to get properly off to sleep, but then slept to 6am, and after a quick snack, to 8.30am. Then last night I vaguely remember 4 or 5 feeds. Then she was real grumpy today, which may be lack of sleep, but I'm sure she's teething too.

OK, so I'm biased, but she looks cute, eh? She fell asleep on the way home from Preschool on Friday. Em got out and I stuffed in the cushion and blanket. She even slept thru our neighbour revving up his motorbike. Definitely sleeps best outdoors!

I've been trying to use the car less and the bike more with this unseasonally warm dry weather we've been having. I sure am sore! Sophie is not too keen on the trailer, but we've fixed the fitting problem with a cosytoes from the buggy, so now she's secure (blasted speed bumps strewn all over town wobbled and shook her horizontal on Tuesday). She'll just have to learn to love it, like Emma does! I can get to Preschool as fast on the bike as I can in the car, and I need to exercise in a low impact way as my knees are wrecked, so cycling seems to fit the bill there.

Al was busy yesterday making my dream of more storage become reality - now I've got to keep my side of the bargain and BE more tidy!

Has anyone else come across "baby-led weaning", or even tried it?

I came across an article in my National Childbirth Trust magazine yesterday and Im trying to do research on it. One day I may even find time to post an Advice Article on it, but if anyone feels like writing it for me, I wont be offended!

See baby-led weaning.

Im tempted to try it with Sophie, even though Ive missed the boat by introducing purees at 4 months, and feeding tiny lumps now at 6 months, but I did put some cauli and brocolli on her tray last night (played with, not eaten) and the celery stick is regularly chewed within an inch of it's life, and lettuce gets chewed sometimes too, so I think baby-led solids could suit her, adapted to our circumstances. It's interesting to see that the research suggests that babies dont choke on lumps as they dont suck it, and that left to play with fist-sized lumps at 4 months, they play with it but start eating it at around 6 months (I felt Soph "tasted" purees til 5 or 6 months before upping her volumes).

Em with her beans in loo rolls and cress just sown on cotton wool.

Two pics of Em in the vege garden on Wednesday.

And a pic Em took of me in the greenhouse with the seedlings.

I dont know what's up with Sophie - she's not herself! She woke up straight after a feed at MIDNIGHT last night and howled. I knew she wasnt hungry so I decided to rock her back to sleep. She refused the dummy which I offered on & off. I began to wonder if she just wanted a comfort suck but she even turned down my finger so I decided to wait. She woke Daddy asleep in the spare room, but fortunately not Emma. Daddy got paracetamol - cross baby! In the end she burned off her cross energy after an hour. (Dont worry, clean nappy, no temperature except what she'd screamed up!)

Then Em wanted cuddles as soon as Al left for work at 7.40am. I wanted a lie in!

I have been so out of it - my brain cells cant find each other! Ibuprofen fended off the inevitable headache, and Js mum invited us over for lunch at her new house, & we stayed til nearly dinner time. So that was a great help.

Soph's had lots of extra naps (lucky her!) and had a couple of big cries during the day too. Teeth still not through. Nose a little drippy (except after a good cry empties it!). Right now I dont think she's ill, but she's not even smiling as much as usual. Hope tomorrows better.