Three days to go!

"Three more days" as Elizabeth says... I commenced ironing with avengeance last night, and have been depositing clothes into cases all day. Went to visit my Nan after going to the local library to take Elizabeth's books back today. Lots to do tomorrow - namely try to buy roof bars for the car (as husband has commandeered a roof box at work), white shoes to go with my dress, pay a cheque in blah blah. I just want the weekend to hurry up and get here!

Am washing the sling (again) although why I'm bothering I don't know, as soon as Edward gets in it he is sick. He's not been so great the last couple of days reflux-wise, but has been sleeping ok. In fact last night he went to bed at around 7pm after only a short feed. Have we cracked it?

Elizabeth is busy popping bubble wrap and he is asleep upstairs as I build up to making the tea and getting ready for our visit from the clergy about Edward's baptism tonight.

I want to go on holiday!!

nearly there - the holiday approaches

Its Monday. We're off on Saturday. Things to do:

• buy pair of white shoes to go with new Summer dress
• wrap Father's day present for husband
• write Father's day cards for husband
• iron all clothes
• renew library books
• take Elizabeth's library books back
• take head hugger out of Maclaren buggy
• see whether buggy and cases fit in boot of car
• clean interior of car
• take car back to Furrows to get window switch re-programmed
• pack (everything)
• buy packed lunches for Saturday
• empty camera memory card
• re-charge camera battery

Oh my life... and that is just what I can think of off the top of my head! The washing machine is now on for the third time today - nappy load. I had to strip off completely and wash all my clothes after being caught in a huge downpour in Sainsburys carpark. It wasn't raining at all when we went in, so after dealing with the alarm going off as we tried to exit with our clothing purchases that hadn't been security scanned, we were met with quite a sight. Rivers of water pouring down the road, and thunder, lightening... I stood in the foyer for some time waiting for it to 'go off' but it didn't, so I had to leave the children in the trolley with an old man looking out for them while I ran to the car to get the umbrella. It didn't help much but did keep them both dry while I transferred them to the car (Edward still sleeping) and then took the trolley back!

Am v. excited about the holiday though, so although over-whelmed with the amount of stuff 'to do' really enjoying getting ready and having it all ahead.

Husband back - arghhhh!

He came back last night, just as Elizabeth was about to get into bed after a crazy, crazy bath-story-bed session. My Mum helped out, and my sister helped out the other two nights which was great, but still not the same as husband being able to take charge of Elizabeth completely.

Have had a success on the shopping front. Bought a blue and white spotty dress from Joules and it fits and actually looks quite nice! Have visions of strolling around in Devon in it, and am hoping it will double up for Edward's christening too! Also bought a long-sleeved top from there, and despite having a marathon shop at Sainsburys at the weekend and picking up jeans and millions of tops, took them all back and arrived home with only three at the beginning of the week.

We've finally reached (or nearly) the week before the holiday. Have been to see Hannah and William today, have got Lorna and Louisa tomorrow, then on Saturday we've blocked out the day for going to the library and washing the car (ooooh the excitement!). The library have been texting me all week to say that all the books I've ordered are in, so that is positive. I've been reading some really good (well easy) books since Edward arrived, and had been hoping to get something by two authors I particularly liked, Elizabeth Buchan and Cecilia Ahern. Am going to steer away from factual books, and go with novels because they are far more relaxing for a holiday (should I ever happen upon the time to read while we are there!).

The car has to be clean for the holiday, inside and out. It has been at Furrows most of this week having two switches replaced for the princely sum of £288, which we hope we can claim back as it should be under warranty. Watch this space. I sent the letter out today, so we'll see.

Ok, think that is all for now. Utterly exhausted. Tried Davina's DVD last week, am hoping to maybe try again later. We'll see.

Husband away - arghhhhh!!!

Ok - so I'm home alone with the children. He left at 6am this morning, and they are both now asleep. Today has been nothing out of the ordinary, but as I sit at the pc checking emails and blogging and looking at Facebook and Mumsnet it occurs to me that in an hour or so husband would normally speaking breeze in full of the joys of the outside world, ready to relieve me of screaming baby so that I could escape to the relative freedom of the kitchen to prepare the evening meal. He would also be on hand to prompt Elizabeth not to throw food all over the place/spill water/eat at too much of a snails pace while I feed Edward, and would also bath Elizabeth while I dealt with Edward's ablutions. No such luck tonight. Am flying solo. And tomorrow night. And Wednesday night. Am sure we will all survive, but I can't say I'm looking forward to it. I've been strangely calm about it in the run up to his departure. Had a relatively quiet weekend purchasing loads of clothes from Sainsburys then taking them back again, seeing my sister who is back for a week of work experience at a local infant school... seeing my parents yesterday... who knows what this week will have in store though!

Optimism continues....

I've just been out to vote in the local council and European elections - point being I've made it out of the house at 8pm. He settled down to sleep at about 7.20pm, and last night he actually slept through. I think I put him into his cot at around 8.30pm yesterday, and he woke up just before 6am. He'll probably wake up at 2am tonight though!!! The other positive thing about today is that when they both woke up this afternoon I stuck the Davina Powerof5 DVD on, got the exercise mat out, and did a warm up and abdominal session, first time since about this time last year. Feel loads better for it. I think after Elizabeth was born it was a couple of months after her first birthday before I did any exercise. Bit earlier this time. I can feel how my back needs to move - it is so stiff and uncomfortable. I'm sure that by getting the muscles working and building up my fitness it can only be a good thing!

We went 'holiday shopping' today - drove to Sainsburys in Shrewsbury (oh the glamour) and bought several things for Elizabeth (skirts, a sunsuit, a beach dress etc) and a pair of shorts and a pair of swimmers for Edward.

She has been a bit trying to say the least today. The last week or so really. She is getting increasingly aggressive in a tentative kind of way towards Edward. She will push his tummy, tap him on the head, poke him... not pleasant. The other thing is she won't listen to 'no' and just carries on in spite of you, kicking the walls, putting greasy hands on the curtains, kicking me... Arrrrgh!!! Still incredibly cute when she says, "I like you Mum". She says she'll look after me and give me a kiss when husband is away on a course next week. We were wondering if she'd get chicken pox today and she said, "Will there be chickens Mum?". She's just learned to say her name too - instead of 'Libeth, she is now A-LIZ-A-BUTH. When I said Edward was a little boy earlier in he week she said, "No, he's not. He's Edward James Roy Bagnall!".

Looking forward to getting some shopping done on Saturday for myself, but before that have got to get through some dental surgery tomorrow night which I'm not looking forward to.

weekend summary

Edward has had a much better weekend, reflux-wise. It made the world of difference, that together with the weather (it has been non-stop sunshine since Friday!). We had a lovely day out on Sunday at Amerton Farm, and Edward was a dream - he fed and we got going in the morning, fed when we got there then strolled around in his lovely XLR and had a nap while we had our lunch, then fed, nappy changed and slept on the way home, as did Elizabeth. She loved feeding the 'ammals' and enjoyed seeing her Aunties.

Husband has been working on his skateboarding ramp all weekend, and I managed to get my hair cut on Saturday (only been waiting since October).