Nic - how stressful for your family You sound like a very strongly connected family and very supportive of one another, and I think that will definitely help you guys through this next phase
Ali - it's the 'time to self' crisis, isn't it? Competing interests of others, and even your own interests leave so little time for the things you actually LIKE doing for yourself! I'm having similar issues related to needing time for things I like doing, yet needing an extra couple of days in the week to be tacked on to the existing days. Heard a speech pathologist talk last night and this forthcoming phase of communication of our little ones is so exciting, isn't it?
Rory - good point, haven't seen Jess round, might have to check FB for any clues... I've been sending Oscar to childcare with EBM, or it will just go past the recommended time-keep thingy! It feels ridiculous, yet quite potent simultaneously.
Mel - Such a lovely day to end the week on!! I'm afraid I might have to go off coffee - it's going straight to my nerves lately and I've been having trembles, which can't be good. I reckon I could get just as much read and processed without it. I reckon you'll hear lots of funny tales from both Chelsea and DH when you call to check up on them! How exciting to get time with Marley, just you and her. I'm going to lock that one into my memory bank and do it with our second child. We're doing so much with Oscar that I'm already looking at ways to give this non-existent second child valuable experiences they can own for themselves! Of course, it's also great, in my mind, to have fantastic shared experiences between the siblings. So much to look forward to (Geez, it's nice to use that phrase in a positive sense, instead of the negative one I always cop from people who exude 'BTDT' attitude!).
Ok, gonna go and pick up Oscar and head home. He's got swimming tonight (still debating getting in the pool with him and DP, could be fun and I need some of that!), then BIL birthday BBQ. We decided we are going camping with our friends - we got an offer from my beautiful GF to use her other car, so that we can take a trailer! I had settled with the idea of not going earlier in the week, before the offer came in, and now I'm excited again.
Have a great weekend everyone! Hope those of you intending to go to a dawn service come good with your committment (as in, I hope so in order that you don't feel guilty in yourselves!). I"m hoping the same for myself -I've said I'd go and it remains to be seen as to whether I'll have the motivation tomorrow morning...