Chickens in a box

Wardrobe issues still make up the bulk of the arguments we have with Will to the point where I've been getting out of bed several times a night because he's got the light on and is rummaging around for new jimjams. I finally snapped last night and put him in his most hated Bob the Builder PJs which resulted in full-on meltdown. He has got to learn that there are consequences to 'un'ceptable behaviour'. It has to be done, but it's very hard. Eventually I went upstairs and asked if he'd go to sleep if I let him have his 'nice' jimjams back and he said he would. 5 minutes later he was out like a light.

Just when we thought it was all over.... William has learned how to take his clothes off and he's loving it. Last night Eddie went up to check on him and 2 minutes later I heard a rather confused voice asking me whether these were the pyjamas he'd gone to bed in originally. They weren't. He'd decided he didn't like the originals, taken them off, put them in his drawer, chosen new ones which he'd put on (after his nappy of course) and got back into bed. At least he's progressing with the dressing himself project, a few days ago he just walked into our room starkers asking for 'clean jimjams'. I wouldn't mind, I just wish he wouldn't do it at 3am. In the meantime James had a total meltdown last night and we still have no idea why. He got himself into such a stew and after a change, cuddle, walkabout, teddies, milk, cream and God knows what else I'm afraid we gave up and he ended up crying himself to sleep. What else could we do?

It's been a busy week! Typical - you don't go out for 2 months and then suddenly get 3 evenings on the trot. Caught up with the NCT girls on Wednesday for supper and had a very cathartic session of mutual ranting about how hideous 2 year olds can be. Then on Thursday Eddie and I went out for a meal at The Yew Tree together. As we left East End, Anne and Tim were coming out of the yard stopped to laugh at our escape from parental servitude. We sped off to dinner via The Plough and then, 10 minutes into our meal, who should walk through the door and sit at the table opposite but Anne and Tim! The irony of the whole thing was that they were coming round to ours for dinner anyway on the Friday! Fortunately a great night was had by all, and Friday's supper was also huge fun with us finally collapsing at a whopping 1am. On Saturday we went down to Sussex to see Eddie's family and by the time we got home Eddie literally had to run upstairs to bed where he was subsequently sick...

Daddy was oblivious to their pain and relentless in his drive to get the potatoes in. Rescue came eventually in the form of Mummy, promising CBeebies and lunch, much to the relief of his damp and muddy co-workers. Apart from today's potato excitement, Eddie has had his CT scan so now it's a question of waiting again for the results. I'm almost better but now have my own muslin, borrowed from James in the case of emergency nose-blowing. My taste and smell are almost back, but I'm still not 100% even 2 weeks on. Have decided not to send William to Bright Sparks at all having heard nothing from the woman who runs the place since we went for our induction. Having been underwhelmed that day anyway, and now left high and dry with no confirmation of days/cost/start etc there's no way I'm going to waste our time and money on the place. Roll on September and Little Sunflowers, it'll be worth the wait and Will is so happy where he is there's little point in movi...

I need ages to psych myself up for trips out, preparing all the stuff we need to take and trying to work out the best time to go to hit naps/food at the right times. Fortunately for us we were lucky enough to get to Putney in an hour and fifteen and spent a happy day with Eliza, Izzy, Cordelia and Jane. Manic, but good to see friends and get out of East End for a bit. Mind you, I have to say that one of the best things about going away is coming home again. When we got home, both boys fast asleep in the car after all the excitement, I could sense them relaxing in their own environment. We tootled out for a short walk before bathtime and I felt so happy that we live in this peaceful, rural place. We said hello to Cate, pottered round to see the pigs and then headed home for bathtime and bed. East End is lovely.

It has to be said that Eddie and I were considerably more excited about the sudden snowfall than either Will or James. Will had to be bribed outside with a biscuit (admittedly before breakfast which didn't help, but we were too excited to wait) while poor James was strapped into the papoose and, as usual, didn't get a say in the matter. An amazing sight albeit short-lived and by midday the sun was beaming down and you would never have known that the village was carpeted in snow first thing. In other news I am STILL feeling less than 100%, this cold has taken forever to shift. Eddie has gone home to see the family as Julia goes in for her operation tomorrow morning, so it's very quiet here and I'm just going to write this, see if my banana bread has turned into another gooey disaster (hopefully not as I was planning to take it to Cordelia's tomorrow), and go to bed.

Knocked off my perch yet again by the most horrible cold and chesty cough. I must be getting old, because a few years ago it'd only have taken me a day or so to shake it off, but these days I just can't get rid of colds and I've had this one for a week already. Every day I pray I'll wake up feeling better and every morning I look - and feel - like Frankenstein's Monster. Poor Eddie. I'm usually in bed by 8.30pm, and spend the day watching the clock for my next Paracetamol fix. Not good. (A reminder of what I used to look like when I was human.)