Hello everyone! I love all the long posts that everyone has been doing the last couple of days.

Jas - woo hoo on TTC, that sounds like fun . I'd love to be joining you, but not sure that DP is quite ready to come to the party just yet.

Lis - good idea on making a list of presents. I've kind of started, but I get distracted so easily that I lose track of what I've thought of. But I have come up with the following ideas - jigsaws, a trike, a kiddie couch/beanbag, books, books & more books (specifically Winnie the Pooh), shoes (which my Mum will probably buy), clothes that aren't from target or Big W. Well done on getting Olivia down to sleep without tears.

V - I'm looking at finding work by October. I don't really want to, as I love being a SAHM, but if we're going to afford things like weddings, and more kids, I sort of need to contribute financially. But will only be part time, so that's something. And I figure that by October Liam will definitely be walking, so he'll be a little more independent & self-sufficient at day care.

Sacha - you are lucky not having to think about going back to work. The swimming lessons are such a good idea. I haven?t got off my backside to organize them for Liam yet, but once winter is over I think that I?ll look into it. And how cute is the pointing!

Jess ? I can?t believe your first trimester is nearly over. Re the eating, Liam is the king of hot/cold. Sometimes he wolfs it down, then other days I struggle to get him to eat more than a few teaspoons of stuff. And it?s not like he?s rejecting new foods, so mostly I?m offering the same things each day, so no rhyme or reason for it. Mind you, he?s a lot better than he was a couple of months ago, when I couldn?t get him to eat anything. I think that part of his problem is that he likes BM waaaay to much.

Sarah ? great job on the weight loss, that?s a fantastic effort. And congrats to your cousin on the birth of her babies. It?s a shame that she?s so far away & you can?t get to see her & her new bubs. Mind you, twins, that?s got to be a hard first few months I reckon, the sleep deprivation with just one is hard, can?t imagine having two to take care of.

Megan ? you poor thing, it?s so frustrating when they won?t go to sleep. I reckon that they can smell the fear in a way, that they know when you are worried about them getting to sleep that?s when they won?t, little buggers. Liam?s not having tantrums, but I certainly have some challenges with his day sleeps, although not nearly as bad as yours from the sounds of it. So far this week he has done the following ? Mon, Tues, Wed woke at 6.30ish, so back to sleep by around 9.30, when he slept for nearly 2 hours (bliss). But then has fought the concept of an afternoon sleep, which finally arrived at about 4.30, for no more than half an hour. Then today, woke at 5am, got feed & sent back to bed, so woke at 8.30. then no morning sleep, until I shoved him in his pram at about 11.30, but only slept for 20 mins as we went to mini maestros. So back in the pram at 2pm, as I had to get to the shops, when he finally went to sleep, but that was a bit of a miracle, as he?s been really resistant to sleeping in the pram for the last few weeks. I find it really hard, because it seems that the only way he?ll do a decent day sleep is if I stay home with him, but then he gets cranky because he?s bored from being at home all day. As am I, I get cabin fever if I?m at home for too many days on end. So, I?m not much help to you, but you do have my sympathy, & you?re definitely not alone.

Anyway, today has been an exciting day for us. I took Liam to Mini Maestros for the first time, and he loved it. It was super cute, he was bouncing around in my arms and smiling at the lady taking the class. And smiling at the older girl (12 mo), who was pretty cute. The other exciting thing about today is that Liam said ?mum? for the first time. Not mum as in mummy, but it was so adorable to hear it anyway. Makes a change from nun, nun, nun, and da da da? And tomorrow I?m hoping to get a phone call from the man who?s making my ring. It?s been 3 weeks since I spoke to him, and he said he?d call at the 3 week mark to let me know when to expect it to be ready to collect. I don?t really feel like it?s real yet, I need the rocks to make it seem like it?s actually happening. It?s really hard, because I?m dying to tell my family, but want to surprise them with the ring. My parents are leaving for 3 & a half months os on the 23rd June, so it better be ready before then.

Anyway, can you believe it, put somebody down to sleep at about 8, then he woke up for a feed at 9.30, and then was crying again at 10.30, and now he?s at it again. Seriously driving me nuts.