*Stop The Cavalry* It's The 2014 Christmas Chatter Thread

his_missus

Nic, I'd like to decorate outside but never have as nobody else in the Close does. We have a young family now at no.1 so I'm hoping they will and I can follow suit without looking like the Christmas Nut of the Close


We do put a wreath up on the door and one of those advent candle bridges in the front window.

pinknfluffy28

springdreams wrote: »

My DS and my twin nephews have only ever been bottle fed - didn't make them sleep through the night though. Would have been lovely if it had

Just goes to show that no two babies are the same.

Edit: hmmmm - post re bottle feeding has been deleted ...

That was me! I read back and was afraid it sounded as though I was preaching - which wasn't my attention - so deleted it as to not risk starting debates lol

My 2 were both sleeping through 6-7 hours by 3 months. A combination of bottle feeding (according to health professionals) and the strict nighttime routine we established from day one, we both worked so no sleep really wasn't an option. Bottle feeding also wasn't through choice, I don't produce milk, so had no other option.

Babies can self settle, ours did, but this (in my opinion) comes with time. There is a huge difference between allowing a child to self settle and them becoming distressed. Ours were never distressed, but they were allowed to cry & not be picked up, instead we would gently stroke their head, or just hum to them until they were calm again. We also never had them in bed with us, and if they did fall asleep in our arms, they were placed in their cot or moses basket asap to sleep.

Our circumstances ment we had to do this routine, it worked for us, and we were & still are, all happy & content.

However, what works for one, isn't for another. Every mother, baby, family & set of circumstances are unique.

I hope this one doesn't sound like I'm preaching, its just my personal experiences & opinions xx

murie

I don't often post nowadays but I do follow the thread. Its a bit upsetting to see that some you wonderful people are on the verge of falling out. From what I have been reading its all blown up out of nowhere, as long as children grow up happy and knowing they are loved then there is no right way or wrong way to parent. Im sure no one meant any offence in the first instance, but do spare a thought for Princess Kitty as she is the new mom who is using this thread as a bit of a sounding board- we don't want to discourage her from posting and using the support that so many have offered her(ie the ear to bend when she feels a little out of her depth).
Please please don't let this threads warmness and support fall apart because of a few perhaps ill phrased words of advice. Play nicely ladies x

newthrift

pinksteps :T well done to you on getting everything wrapped! I always wait until in to December but this year I might start at the end of November when I have the day off work.
nic we don't decorate outside other than a wreath on the door and two light up decorations for the two upstairts windows facing the courtyard, but no-one really see's them much. When we move to the farmhouse and have our own children we would like to do some outside though also. Hopefully the new family might follow suit

Well I found some good deals on Dove items at Wilko's yesterday & was going to order to the store, but then I thought they might have what I want in the store so going to check when I am near there Friday - this will make up a bathing hamper for my mum. She use's Dove stuff anyway so I know she likes it Will try and pick up a magazine and a basket and odd bits to go in it too.
Still can't think of anything else for FIL - apart from a new work bag as his is falling to bits, might speak with MIL see if she has any ideas as me and OH can't decide. I have a couple of birthday gifts I need to get wrapped and ready. Have the day booked off work tomorrow, just going for my hair trimmed and then hopefully have a good sort/clean through the house and through the Christmas stuff - whilst resisting the urge to wrap anything

Work is very steady today, here until 5pm but I have finished everything I can until later this afternoon :mad: makes for such a long day, oh well...I am thankful to even have a job so I will stop moaning

nic2075

pigpen wrote: »

decorate the inside of your hall window maybe?

do you have a porch you could put a tree in or a small one in the hallway or maybe one of those wall hanging flat trees?

I've got a metal tree cone thing I got from Dunelm last year. It has lights. It's sat at my front door window all year. Not plugged in though :-) it looks like a tree from outside the slightly frosted glass. I will see what it all looks like again this year before deciding on something for outside. It's just something over never done and fancied trying it. But didn't want to have a massive elec bill come March lol

freespirit66

Afternoon everyone, i must have been very very lucky with my three regarding sleeping through the night, my first started sleeping through at 6 weeks and the twins 9 and 10 weeks it wasnt down to anything i did (although i think i might have hexed them as night feeds were my worst thing to cope with ) i dont think i could have coped any longer as i love my bed and i love my sleep and luckily so did they

NIC we used to decorate outside and had loads of icicle lights, berry lights, nutcracker soldier, star, a lit up tree and two deer that moved up and down and side to side it did look lovely and people used to drive and stop by to look at the deer, but this was all when the kids were younger, now i dont have anything, as they got older it didnt seem worth it and then exH bogged off, so i just got rid of all of it, it did used to make a difference to our electric bill though but its only for a few weeks of the year, round here there were loads of houses lit up in the boom but not so many now

nic2075 wrote: »

Can I ask who all decorates the outside of their house at Christmas? I have never done it and would like to this year. Just some lights along the garage roof guttering (attached to the house) and maybe a free standing reindeer or a Santa climbing a ladder light. I always worried about the extra cost of electricity and how easy it is to link it all up. But I love seeing a few lights outside as you drive along.
The inside of my house is like Santas grotto, but not too many lights. Just the tree and wrapped round the bannister.

FieryAngel

My brother and his family came over from America last Christmas so my mum wanted to go all out with decorations - well more than usual anyway - and we bought battery operated outdoor lights so no need for an external plug or wires trailing along the floor and no increase in electricity bill either. We just wrapped them around a tree in the front garden and they lasted the whole time with no need for a change in batteries. This might be worth considering They looked nice as well.

his_missus

Our basic Christmas plans are in place. My mum is coming over to us on Christmas Eve (once we finish work) and is sleeping over. We're taking her home late Christmas day morning (then she's heading up to my sister's for the day) and Hubby's mum, dad and 2 sisters are coming over in the afternoon for Christmas lunch.


A proper family Christmas this year!

System

Pinksteps wrote: »

Well, what a morning but.....everything is now wrapped!!! I just need 3 more cracker fillers and a bone for Ted but that will be closer to the day. Now I can sit back and enjoy reading all the chatter. Never been ready quite this early before but I'm going to save over the next few months and definitely NOT using the net on Black Friday

I can't resist Black Friday well online not mad enough to actually go out shopping !lol

MrsChristmas

Made a start on the finishing touch's of the stockings today. It's put me in a really good mood as I think it's one of my favourite parts of the preparations. The stockings are loosely based on american 'holiday' theme/colours, red, greens & white as it just say's Christmas to me... I love how the Americans do Christmas.
DDs (8&11) have each:
Rainbow coloured hairbands, a candy cane lip balm, a metal loom band tool, a giant Christmas pencil, chocolate coins, a tube of love hearts in Christmas design, a malteaser reindeer, a giant candy cane, a giant multicoloured twist lolly, pack of red, green & white jelly beans, chocolate orange & a teddy to sit on the top.
Still to get:
Giant round lolly in red, white & green, hoping to find a Christmas PEZ, socks/gloves, a small waving cat, highlighters/markers/pens & a snowglobe.

I hope you don't mind me posting what I have so far & what I intend to get, just hoping it may give others some ideas.

I follow this lady on YT & here's her stocking stuffer guide
http://youtu.be/kWjQORI2PnY