Pay for the future and not the past

jokono

The mamaruga looks nice! I got an Isara after trying one at a local sling library and then a connecta for really hot days. I liked that isara was comfy and adjustable and the connecta was really light.

Bluegreen143

Ah lovely, I miss my babywearing days 😍 I’ve heard good things about that sling too. I used to keep the stretchy wrap permanently tied on each day rather than retie when they were going in, but mine were both winter babies so it was also useful as an extra layer for me 🤣

MissRikkiC

My local sling library isn’t meeting/consulting until the first week in July and I just need something before then. I do like the Boba wrap I’m using and yesterday I did keep it tied on me after taking Bear out to change him, but when putting him back he was definitely looser and I ended up holding him a little for extra support anyway which defeats the object! 

There was so much choice so using both the parenting groups I follow on FB for advice and the baby wearing FB page I think I made a good choice. 

Olio collection last night of a box of cherries 😍 carrots, salad, herbs (which I always grab as they’re handy!), chocolate pots and runner beans! All great but totally changed my meal plan this week! That said, from tomorrow I am back to managing my food intake again so it was probably for the best. 

I’ve already made a few steps in prep for tomorrow (some are less steps and more removing temptation instead) so green milk purchased in place of green to slowly wean off my milky coffee, drank the good wine and the good gin this weekend, logged into MyFitnessPal and reminded myself of a few food items and their nutritional make up, are some chocolate but saved the dark stuff because well … Healf 🤣

Money wise, I need to sort a few admin jobs this week: 
Call Tesco who seem to think my 0% ends this July and not next November 🤯 
Call Halifax and ask them how I now ‘withdraw’ the credit balance I’ve created on their credit card in an attempt to save fees on money transferring by BTing Instead!
List maternity stuff on vinted (mostly jojo so makes sense) 
Rejig money spreadsheet to account for my daughters birthday (not sure what to do for a party etc yet) but also there is an event on next week which hub and I would like to go to! 

So many house jobs, SO much washing I have never ever seen anything like it with 2 children in reusable nappies. There is laundry everywhere! 🤪 

I need to make a list in the morning I think!

Bluegreen143

Oh wow, both kids in cloth! We cloth nappied too, but my eldest was potty trained before my youngest was born so that helped with the washing situation thankfully. Love a cloth nappy though 😍

MissRikkiC

We had a revelation at 15 months after ECing part time with my daughter where she told us when she needed the potty. Not for wees but that was almost better! 

Then after about 4 months she just stopped telling us! We’ve had to purchase some hemp nappies now because she is holding pees and then flooding the others we have but to attempt to Potty train with Bear having only just arrived probably isn’t smart! 

I have listed the stuff I wanted to on vinted, sorted and culled ALOT of clothes which I’m super pleased about. Done 3 loads of washing since 10am which is actually ridiculous and started to try and put it away! 

Not got around to the 2 calls I need to make! 

Bluegreen143

Aw that’s amazing you did EC!! I really wanted to do that with Bambi but it was too stressful with a 3yo too. Once you are ready you’ll probably find it really easy to get it done since she’s got that experience 🙂

I used the Oh Crap Potty Training book which was really good and breaks it down into set steps, no bribery or shaming and it’s aimed at those with younger toddlers (she suggests 20-30 months - but you can use it with older children too). We used that method both times. It took Monkey longer to get the hang of it than it later took Bambi but it was still successful!

MissRikkiC

I’ve seen that and think we will use it too! I’ve read a lot about it already! Do you still have your copy? 🤔🫢

Bluegreen143

Unfortunately it’s a Kindle one, or I would send you it! 

Monkey was out of nappies during the day at 22 months using the book - he had an accident a day or so for the first few weeks after “clicking” then was pretty much fine - and dry at night at 2.5.

Bambi was 21 months. I tried at 20 months as it’s the earliest recommended in the book, she didn’t seem ready, but when I put her back in nappies she would then pull them off to pee on the floor 🤣 so we had to start again straight away as we’d gone too far to go back, and she was perfect right away for pee as soon as we started again (poo took a few weeks). And she was dry at night only a few weeks after doing the daytime tbh. 

The first week or two is bit intense but if you stick at it and give it full attention, it’s great to have it done and not dragged out for ages. 

I think when you have to wash cloth it does motivate you to get rid and that’s why I liked OCPT and getting it done quicker. It’s not for everyone but worked for me 🙂 like anything it needs to be the right approach for you and something you’ll stick to and work well in your lifestyle.

Suffolk_lass

In terms of birthday ideas, the one DS remembers is the home celebration where (pre-school) we played really old-fashioned games (pass the parcel, musical chairs, pin the tail on (supervised) and colouring in, plus water play (indoor house plant watering cans) in a paddling pool).

When it rained, we put paper tablecloths down on the floor in the house and eat the food picnic style. At the end I was able to just wrap everything up and bin it (everything except the jam handprint we found on the wall about a week later). I remember a platter of fruit that could be dipped in pink icing or chocolate was particularly successful except for one child in a sugar frenzy, who then ran outside, sat in the pool and poured a watering can of water over her head. Oh well.  They went home with a pencil, a scribble pad and a bit of (hm) cake in a napkin

MissRikkiC

I love the ideas @Suffolk_lass but I think maybe next year that might work better. LG is only 2 this time so not sure if instead she might prefer to have family and children over for play time in the garden etc but we’re thinking of other options. It’s likely to be the same as her first birthday only this time she is SO much more aware. 

I did laugh at the very excitable one though and the jammy print. Sorry 😅 and love the fruit idea! 

I’ll absolutely get on with it this summer @b@Bluegreen143 hopefully before the new nursery!