VICKY - yes, very proud mumma moment - it's a rite of passage, another sign your girl is growing up, and that's wonderful that the way your initial AF has been a bad memory for you all these years, has been so different (positive) for your DD. I believe forewarned is good too. My mum thought she was dying of cancer when she got her first AF - she was kept ignorant.

i plan to either make or buy bilby her very own mama pads (in her fave colours, themes) when the time comes. Not sure how workable using cloth at school would be for her, but even if she only used cloth pads at home, that would be ok with me.

ANN - it's strange having a partner, but still feeling like a single mum sometimes - when the responsibility for family is not shared, when communication is not shared. It's a weird place to be in. I hope your dh gets it off his chest, to you, what the heck is bugging him, cos it's not fair to make you cop it.

TARALEE - Happy birthday hun! Enjoy your couch, i hope it's a comfy one! Lie back and eat your fave thing under a snuggly blanket.

KIMBAZ - what do you do (shoewise) when you go to outside and the ground is wet? muddy etc? Is Chelsea wearing the soft soles? We're only in size 4 still but i'm finding the soft soles only useful now for inside wear - which is wonderful cos we have lino, too cold to just go barefeet, adn bilby pulls off sox as soon as the shoes come off, so she won't pad around in sox. I ended up buying navy Fisher Price aplix sneakers in kmart yesterday - they fitted her so much better, the sole was flexible.

AJP - where do you get teh Clark's half price last season's shoes? navy is fine with me. bilby has some memorable woollies, so bland shoes are just perfect!

BLANCHIE - thinking of you, if you're lurking honey! Hi little Jack!!!

dh is well on the mend, only one stitch left that comes out Monday, his nose is healing so well and the allergic reaction seems to have mainly gone now thanks to the medicine. what a relief.