Hi girls,

phew, there was a bit I was going to rely to ......I'll have to scroll back....

Vanita, we don't have a break at all from milking..we milk 12 mnths of the year (the individual cows don't milk 12 months, they milk for about 10 months and then get dried off, but there are still milkers in the herd waiting to be dfried off by the time the early calvers are coming into the dairy). May, June, July and August are our peak milk times and also when we are rearing calves, so March and October are the best times for us to have a holiday. Summer would also be a good time (just feeding stck and milking) but with DH in CFA, summer is a bad time to go anywhere.

Deb, we are not on finger foods here atm, but after yesterdays MCHN visit, I am going to start them. She recommended soft vegies, like boiled/steamed carrot sticks, brocolli, soft fruits etc. Actually I already give rusks and the odd bit of toast crust...

Mel!! You're back!! Great to see you!

Kate, that situation you're describing sounds very tricky and a bit complicated. I take it the person is a relly, hence being around all the time. Hard to really comment on the situation, but you might end up have to do the dreaded confrontation thing and tell them "look, I will raise my kids how I like. If you don't like it...tough". And leave it at that. It's not good to get yourself worked up about it, because as you've said and we've agreed, it's your call and your right to your "rules". Best of luck with it all.

Bel, I am actually off to see an osteo on Tuesday. I have had such a sore back since giving birth and and even after getting deep tissue massages, it is still bad. I'm almost at my wits end with it (could just cry most days with the pain and aches). And hopefully my migraines might settle down too (although, they haven't been too bacd of late....)

Beckles, Pup is also a bit of a screamer - I thank his father for that. They get in the shower most nights and have yelling matches. Problem is, Pup has no idea when NOT to do it (like church!!). Volume control here is non evident atm.....

Brooke, Kangaroo Island is just off shoreline from Adelaide. Need to take a ferry to get there. Not very far, but beautiful. I went there once for work, but didn't get to see much (except the field day where i was working!!)

From us, had our mums group meeting today. My, how the babies have grown. Pup is still the smallest and the least mobile, but he is also the youngest by a bit too. Some of the mums were starting to lament the fact that their mat leave is almost up and deliberating about retunring to work. Glad I don't have to.