Trapped toddler parents: Inspiration and support needed through the summer hols!!

[PinkDaydreams]

Following on from the previous trapped toddler thread!
Sorry for rubbish title!

Evening all,

@Motherofmonsters oh no, hope you weren't too late. We haven't experienced this yet but judging by the mini tantrums we've had so far I am expecting a lot of this in our future!

@Chocolatetrifle what happened with the cake? Whenever I try to bake with DS half of it ends up on the floor and he just eats whatever we're putting in the bowl. Didn't think it was possible to eat so much flour, or that it would be so appetising...but apparently its delicious?

@Lostthetastefordahlias I know that feeling, I don't know how we would survive without nursery. Hope you got to recharge your batteries a little though.

It's properly snowed here and I think last year DS was a bit young to fully get what was going on - either that or he'd forgotten about it. In any case it took an eternity to walk to nursery today because we had to wipe snow off every stone round our building (they're like biggish decorative boulder stones) and then walk really slowly kicking snow the whole way. He's been in a relatively good mood though with only a mini tantrum at teatime because his rice was too hot, so that was basically our fault. Fingers crossed he sleeps well, he woke up loads last night!

We also had a midwife appointment today, everything is looking good and the twinges have started so she reckons I won't go too far over my due date. She was telling us we had to call and go in as soon as contractions start because everything can go much faster with the second one, then proceeded to tell us about a recent mum who had her baby within 45 minutes of contractions starting and they didn't make it in time so the DH had to deliver the baby...I thought DH was going to start hyperventilating did you all have shorter labours with your second? I doubt I'll take only 45 minutes mind but I had 18 hours with DS so I wouldn't mind if that was a bit shorter

Hope everyone sleeps well!

@squishymamma, oh it's just not worth the mess, both bickering and arguing ( this is starting to happen more now as dS2 is talking more) and dS2 insisting I hold him the entire time despite being nearly 2 and he weighs a tonne, so trying to help DS1 with the ingredients and mixing with one hand, then I put the cake to bake on grill model instead of oven in the oven. Don't get me started on the washing up of the cooking bowls etc etc!

No labour for me as I had a planned section.

It's getting very exciting for you now isn't it?

Oh we did have some success today with making a big fruit salad, boys chopping with their kiddy knives. Simple and much less mess ( still some mess though obviously).

Sleep well everyone.

I love that @Chocolatetrifle grilled lemon cake that is the kind of thing I would do. We are overwhelmed with mess here even without cooking today so well done for dealing with all that! Must get up & tidy, must get up & tidy …. (Falls asleep).

I had a planned section for my second as well @squishymamma so I can’t advise! But everyone I know who has second or third babies has got to hospital fine!

It's been one of those days today. DS2 threw a Thomas the tank engine train straight at my head this afternoon and DS1 threw a fork at DS2's head at tea..

On a positive note we've been to the Garden Centre again to look at the lights.

I'm feeling like I'm coming down with a cold.

How is everyone?

Oh no, lots of sore heads at yours @chocolatetrifle.

We are full of colds (again) here. Ds asked for his pyjamas at 4pm. I've bought lots of Sambucol off of Amazon as it's meant to be magical...

SIL bought them toy advent calendars, wrapped up for them to open but they were different sizes... DS got very upset as his was the smaller one and he wanted DDs. Until they opened them and his was more his style...

@Motherofmonsters, I give mine Sambucol and have done for about 3 weeks now. I ordered 4 bottles the other day, there's not much in the bottle, it doesn't seem to last long. I hope it makes a difference for you. I was getting confident and then they got ill again this weekend. Hopefully it's doing something positive to build up their immunity.

On the subject of advent calendars mine don't get it at all and want to open all the windows at once.

I'm feeling despondent this evening, mine have been bickering with each other all day apart from the hours apart when DS1 was at preschool.

Evening!

Sorry to hear it's been a bit of a rough day @Chocolatetrifle. Hope you get to recharge tonight and that your cold doesn't materialise. I obviously don't have experience on this yet but I can imagine constant bickering can easily wear you down, crossing fingers they are nicer to each other tomorrow!

Hope you all feel better soon @Motherofmonsters, glad to hear the advent calendar crisis was averted - size doesn't always matter eh we haven't bothered at all this year, DS still doesn't really understand the concept of Christmas in general so we'll wait until next year.

I got really angry at DS this morning because I was tired and stressed and he was whining regardless of whether I gave him what he wanted or not. He's been very needy lately so I'm wondering if it's clicked that something big is about to happen. DH and I watched a "masterclass" tonight about navigating Christmas with a toddler and discussed how we will manage - we'll be at a huge family gathering on the 24th which will totally disrupt his routine. And then we realised that we will in fact have a newborn, and I don't have to go far over my due date for him to actually be only a few days old...so now I'm less worried about DS and more worried about having to deal with all of the postpartum stuff AND be at a family gathering! They'd totally understand if we skipped it but it's essentially Norwegian Christmas so...hard to justify not going. I guess we will cross that bridge when we come to it.

I am a mixture of excited and terrified, sometimes I look at DS and think "why on earth did we decide to have them so close together" but I know we'll be thankful in the long run. I keep looking at the bedside crib with a sense of dread at the long nights ahead though

Anyway thanks for reading my mini essay...! Hope everyone gets some sleep and these bugs/viruses do one!

Ah @Chocolatetrifle I so know the feeling, I hope you have been able to relax/ recharge this evening. It is so disheartening when you just have to arbitrate all day but I tell myself some days are just like that and they are learning how to relate to each other. Also you've had battles with colds again which wont have helped anyones moods. Hope you feel more positive tomorrow!
We went to nature class again today, 2hrs in a biting wind, never been so glad to get into the cafe at the end of it. Some old ladies were tutting at Dd eating malteasers but it was 100% worth it for a cappuccino in peace while DS napped .

Also, I keep reading Sambucol as sambuca which amuses me - I'm so ready for a glass of wine it's not even funny I feel like our DC wouldn't be so keen on having sambuca though, I assume Sambucol probably tastes nicer...

Ah @chocolatetrifle, I was hoping you were going to say it's great stuff and cleared up everything. Will have to see how they get on. I understand the bickering DS and DD are at it constantly

@squishymama, think of the lovely snuggly newborn cuddles when they're here! I found it hard imagining what it would be like with two of them would. Maybe Christmas at the same time will distract DS.

DD woke up every hour and was up for the day at 5. I'm guessing her colds about to get worse to. I could hear DS breathing from his bedroom so I assume he's all bunged up. DD has got baby ballet this morning and DS has martial arts this evening. I'm going to be ready for bed at about 4pm

@Motherofmonsters, I only started using it after I saw it recommended on another thread. I'd never heard of it before. I was really confident as for 3 weeks nothing, not a sniffle! I know really it's not going to stop the bugs but I was so fed up of the frequency of them plus the recurring tonsillitis that I was willing to try anything. I'm going to keep it going through the winter.

Sorry you seem to have more bugs too, hope your DC are ok and enjoy their classes today. Thanks for understanding about the bickering. My two have started wrestling each other on the floor.

My ds1 is better and dS2 is recovering but still a bit wheezy. I've got a bad chesty cough so off for PCR later. I called my doctor's for antibiotics as I'm asthmatic and the nurse said I'll give you them but go for the PCR later and I'll call you tomorrow to check you went! Charming, feel like I'm at school or something.

@squishymamma,. My DSs' assure me the Sambucol tastes fowl, it's elderberry but quite thick.

Try not to worry too much about newborn and Christmas arrangements. I agree your DS will be distracted by Christmas. My oldest was 25 months when dS2 was born and actually didn't take much notice of him for a while. See how you feel when baby is here and just take it all from there. I had a 2 week old at Christmas and we just went to my parents and dS2 seemed to sleep through most of Christmas! Hopefully you will have lots of chance to recover and get looked after too.

@Lostthetastefordahlias, ah thanks for understanding too what I mean about the bickering and being referee. It's always intensified when we have too much time in the house. Glad the nature class was good.

This week I am saving toilet rolls and going to make crepe paper crackers just like we did at school. I will update in due course. I'm self-employed ( super part-time, only a few hours a week currently)and have just had a batch of work in so best do some whilst dS2 is napping now.

Have a good day everyone.

@squishymamma that sounds positive from the midwife. 46 hours vs 5 for DS and DD, and DH only got there for last 15 this time! DS was 3 weeks old for his first Christmas, and it was actually lovely - went to my aunties with my parents and got looked after, so hopefully you'll have something similar. But obviously first few days post birth might be a bit different.

@Chocolatetrifle constant bickering sounds so frustrating. At the moment we're at the stage of DS getting annoyed with DD while she tries to join in with whatever he's doing (and I need to keep an eye for pushing etc) Good luck with the crackers, sounds a great idea.

@Motherofmonsters aww, that sounds like such a tough night. Sending sympathy and coffee.

@Lostthetastefordahlias can't stand that tutting when someone sees a little bit of your day - so annoying! Nature class sounds a good idea though.

Broke my arm on Saturday which is making everything challenging (particularly with DD who tries to crawl away during nappy changes, still needs lifting out of a cot etc). Plus not being able to drive sucks, although parents are helping to arrange transport so we can still go to the zoo for DSs birthday on Saturday. Fingers crossed for ok weather!

Made a stupid mistake the other week. Hes started talking about poo a lot (fine) and said 'DD is poo.' I got cross and said it wasn't kind, he got upset. Same thing happened a few times. He has since called himself poo and I've realised I should have treated it as silly/not really reacted (definitely a pick your battles thing). Told him I've said it's not nice and I'm not going to talk about it again, and I've gone to ignoring him saying that, but responding to him saying anything else for a few days but he's still saying it loads - does that sound even vaguely sensible? Hate how reacting too quickly can set up a whole load of problems.

Hopefully making gingerbread men and going to the park today, and taking advantage of grandparents being here.

Oh gosh @prettygirlincrimsonrose sorry to hear about your arm!! That sounds so difficult, hope you can get a lot of help!! Looking after little ones is so physical and I think people dont realise/ forget that when they are not in this stage themselves. Do look after yourself where you can!
Hope your work has gone well @Chocolatetrifle.
@squishymamma its such a strange mix of excitement and apprehension isnt it! I wouldnt worry about christmas everyone will understand if you have to change plans - impossible to know how things will be! Of course every baby is different but I found Ds slept so much in the day it was a gentle adjustment with DD as I could still spend a great deal of time just with her.
Dd is at preschool today, Ds has woken up with a horrible eye infection - waiting for dr to call me back. Always something isnt there!

Oh and I completely agree that anything they do that upsets you/ you react strongly to they will do again and again just to “test” the reaction! Its so annoying - I find I have to react calmly about 100 times to cancel out the 1 time I didnt!!

@prettygirlincrimsonrose, oh sorry to hear about your arm. How are you coping? It must be really difficult for you. Hope you get some peace time by yourself at some point to relax and heal.

The poo phase they think is hilarious I think. Try not to focus on it. I've done worse. Swore in a stressful moment at home and now every time DS1 has had too much sugar, or clarithromycin antibiotics he starts repeating what he heard from me and that's all my fault. If I say we don't say that he just says it about 10 times so not sure what to do. We can't be perfect all the time. He is testing the boundaries.

I'm back from PCR test and we have done Baker Ross nativity scene stickers and collected some leaves and twigs and stuck some glitter ok and tried to make it look like a wreath and no we are watching tele.

@Lostthetastefordahlias, I hope your DS's eye gets better, did you get some antibiotic drops or cream?

@Chocolatetrifle I've said this before but you're so creative!! Can i also ask which kids knives you have please? My DS is enjoying helping out in the kitchen so I'd like to get him some. Tonight he has thoroughly enjoyed putting the bread in the toaster, pushing it down, getting butter from the fridge then spreading it onto the toast.....the simple things hey!!

@Motherofmonsters you've just reminded me I've got a bottle of something in the back of the cuboard I need to fish out, similar to sambucal (or even better if it was sambuca!!) Can't remember the name but it's a vitamin medicine for when run down. We are all full of cold too.

Whilst ds was at nursery today I've picked up a few things to do for whilst he's off over the xmas period. Couple of Xmas themed cake/biscuit box kits, some icing pens and cake decorations, some new baubles to decorate the tree (doesn't go up till weekend before Xmas due to birthdays first), fished out the snow in a test tube/make your own garlands/Xmas pom poms I'd stashed away. I might even attempt to make some clay decorations, not done them before though so could be a disaster!!

@prettygirlincrimsonrose oh my goodness I've just read about your arm!! I'm so sorry, how long will you have a cast on for? Hopefully it won't interrupt too many Christmas plans?

Evening!

Bit knackered so may not manage to respond to everything but have caught up on everyone's news. Thanks for all the reassurances about Christmas too, I think we will just see how it goes and DS will definitely have enough to concentrate on with all his cousins around!

So sorry to hear about your arm @prettygirlincrimsonrose! Hope you're getting some practical help, glad you can still celebrate DS' birthday. Thanks for sharing your birth experience, 46 hours is a crazy long time so I'm very impressed! I'd probably adopt the same silent strategy, or just have a very muted calm reaction, but it's really hard to know what to do. Also agree it seems to take an eternity before they realise they won't get a reaction again.

Hope your day went okay @Motherofmonsters and that you made it past 4pm! Fingers crossed your DC get better soon.

Hope your PCR is clear @Chocolatetrifle. Lovely wreath!

DH took the morning shift this morning so I got to have a lie in, sounded like it went swimmingly, and DS went off to nursery for the day. I went to visit a friend this afternoon who had her baby 2 weeks ago and got back to DH making tea and DS sitting happily watching TV with no issues, but obviously within 10 minutes of me coming in he starts having tantrums because he wants one thing or another. DH says it's because he feels secure enough to let out his big feelings around me while DH largely ignores his antics I'd like to believe that but I'm not sure. Makes me very exhausted though but anyway then we had friends over and a late bedtime for DS, so I'm very interested to see how often he wakes up during the night. Already been a few grumbles so not holding my breath!

Hope everyone has a good night.

@PinkDaydreams
The knives are Jatidne, I got them off Amazon, you get a chopping board too.

What's the snow in a test tube? It sounds fun. I'm trying to think if we could made a snow globe as I've got that pretend snow from Hobbycraft, but don't think it will be possible really. Snow in a jam jar or similar with a picture or little figure? Hmmm. Will have a think.

Night all, sleep well.

@Chocolatetrifle I think it's the same as pretend snow, I haven't tried it out yet. Home made snow globes sound cute!

I'm going to attempt to make pom poms with ds to hang on the tree, never made them before so could end up a disaster!!

Nursery Xmas party tomorrow which I'm a little nervous about as son doesnt cope too well with crowds and loud noise. Still going to try though and see how he gets on.

Any plans for this weekend everyone?

I am going to a real life SPA this weekend with my best friend from school, we are staying overnight I can’t wait! First time to a spa since 2019, second night away since Ds was born 15 months ago. Just got one million things to do/ about ten lists to write for Dh first
Today Dd is at preschool and I am doing as much housework as possible while still semi entertaining DS.
Hope your night was better than anticipated @squishymamma!!
That sounds like a fun christmas prep shopping trip @PinkDaydreams - going to try to do that next week!

@PinkDaydreams, ah I hope your DS enjoys the party tomorrow. The crafts sound like a good plan too.

@Lostthetastefordahlias, I hope you have a wonderful time at the spa and enjoy every moment, you deserve it. I used to love a spa day!

Not much to report here, negative covid test so that's good. Have nipped to a couple of shops, dS2 loved the escalator, went up it about 5 times, happy days.

Am going to live @Lostthetastefordahlias spa night vicariously tonight by trying to do a home pamper night once boys in bed.

We have done some more leaves and twigs craft and turned them into a Christmastree then boys starting to fight so that was the end of that.

@Lostthetastefordahlias enjoy your time at the spa! I've got a Lush massage on Sunday which I've been waiting to use for the two years (thanks covid) so am very excited!

@PinkDaydreams oh wow! Sounds amazing.
I used to love Bathos from Lush, does anyone remember that bath bomb? it was a violet one I think but they don't do it anymore. I used to love the candy cane ones too. Enjoy it!