All those online for NZ timezone!

[buzzybee]

Hi all. Used to be a regular on MN when I lived in London but since moving back to NZ have found it harder to make the connections due to all the brits being asleep when us down under are online! So if anyone is keen to start a thread for those of us in this predicament please reply! My DD has just turned 5 and started school last week (scary). Have just found out I'm expecting number 2 - due roughly Xmas day...

Poor you Shells - I was so tired when A was up every two hours but at least I got to rest in teh day, I don't know how I would cope with older ones too (DVDs seem to be a good idea though! ).

My tomatoes suffered a bit from the planting/staking time being when I was heavily pg/had a newborn and just couldn't be bothered doing it. Dh did it in the end. He has some strange theory that normal garden twine (that we used last year perfectly successfully) will cut into the plants or something, so he has used old socks to tie the plants to the staked

My friend who got me the sling was so insistent they were the best thing ever, said she used hers til her LO was 18 mths old or something - I havent' had the heart to tell her it's not working for me!

just had an email from a dear friend in london who was in my ante natal group with DS1. Our boys were great friends right up til we left. She had a second son too and got pregnant again a few months ago. She just mailed to say that they had major anomalies at the 20 week scan and she was told the baby would be very physically and mentally disabled and so she decided to terminate (horrible procedure at that stage) and is in absolute bits about it. I feel so so sad for her and hardly know what to say, especially as I have my lovely baby girl with me (we both always wanted a girl and hers was too) and she doesn't. Its just awful isn't it.

Ohhh Shells, how absolutely awful. And the only thing you can really do is listen to her over the phone. But having said that, people "listening" is hugely helpful, at least it was to me a few months back.

EmMcK, how exciting to be planning your trip back. Sorry don't know those baby carriers - maybe more common in Australia? I have an old Baby Bjorn from DD1 but have not used for DD2 - too hot and sweaty. Plus find them quite hard to get on.

MrsJC - any further thoughts about a trip up this way? Sorry to hear the teething pains continue to break up sleep.

Anna, of course you must have very mixed feelings. Hopefully seeing family would make it worth that pain?? And I'm guessing they would so thrilled to meet Amelia.

No 7 hour sleep last night!! Of course too good to be true. But did put her in a different room after 10pm feed (and I slept in my own bed ) and she slept through to 2.30am which wasn't too bad. Had a bit of trouble getting her to go down after that tho. She is smiling loads now - so amazing.

So sorry to hear about your friend's baby, Shells. Must be horrendous to have to terminate at that stage. Hope she's getting lots of support

THanks. I've sent her a long message. You never know whats going to help do you. It must be the worst thing.
I had a good night last night (well, good for us - 2, 4 hour stretches) so feel reasonably human today. So foolishly decided to go for a walk with all 3 of them. We live up a hill. They were fine on way down. DS2 refused to walk back up and ended up putting him, weeping, in buggy and carrying screaming baby with one hand and pushing heavy buggy with the other. It was exhausting! Back to the endless DVDs strategy...

Its very quiet on here. Hot isn't it. My LO slept for nearly six hours straight last night. i was in shock and kept having to check she was breathing! She's been doing 2 hours for a couple of weeks now, so it was fantastic. Probably just a one off though....

That first night they sleep more than 3 hours at a time is heaven isn't it Shells

(except that,like you, I kept waking up to check A was OK, when she first did it!)

We just got back from Mahurangi (just north of Auckland), we rented a bach there from Friday to Tuesday, as it was long weekend here. It was fab - lovely views over the sea. Ended up with 10 of us there and we're the only ones with a baby - everyone was great but their idea of a night in is still huge amounts of drinking and playing poker till 4am - whereas I was toddling off to bed at 10 pm every night!

Must make effort to meet some other mums and babies - at the moment I know a grand total of none! Well, I know two but one lives an hour north and one an hour and a half south.

All the mum and baby classes locally seem to have stopped till Feb (which it nearly is now, so I should make the effort to go to a few. It's like the first week at uni all over again, talking to random people!)

It was a fab weekend though and A was great. I did kind of miss the poker, I used to be pretty good at it...

Buzzy, how is Bea. And I hope yu're gettign more sleep, Mrs JC - is it teeth (your LO, not yours!)

Anna - 10pm sounds like quite a late night to me!
Its weird meeting people through the baby thing. With DS1 it took me ages to find mums I actually wanted to hang out with - but its lovely when you do find them. I guess baby groups are a good way to start, or just chatting at playground or beach worked for me too. Some baby groups can be gruesomely competitive and others are just lovely.

Hello all, a very belated response to your post buzzy....haven't been on MN much, been a fantastically busy summer and well DS getting such a big boy now at nearly four...Just wanted to say if you are coming up for the pools give me a text and I'll come up and meet you, I only live round the corner. The pools get even better when the schools go back as there aren't so many holiday folk in town so not so busy. We are actually thinking of having a picnic up there one weekend soon, so you could meet a few Waikanae families at the same time. Hope to see you sometime....

Thanks KJaysmum. Glad to hear you've had a lovely summer. I definitely plan to make it back to the pools sometime.
What do you think Shells, would you be up for bringing your three up to Waikanae sometime? The pools are fully fenced, and we would have the help of student Nanny - but is a bit of a drive for 3 little bodies squashed into a back seat!

My LO slept through to 3am from 9pm last night too! I was so surprised when I looked at the clock. Then thru to 7.30am very civilised. I think the trick is not to let her doze her way through the late afternoon and evening so that by 1am she's already gone for a 7-8 hour stretch of largely sleeping. Tonight she's been awake / restless again thru to 10pm (after sleeping solidly 4-6.30pm) so fingers crossed...

Anna it is hard. I was in London when DD1 was born and never really clicked with any of the people in my ante-natal class, then went back to work at 4 months and simultaneously decided to return to NZ at 8 months so didn't really try after that! In NZ have made some really good friends thru her creche but took a year or so and only gradually mostly through attending the rounds of birthday parties!

Oh and in reply to your question a while back Buzzy - we are planning to go back to UK in july probably. It looke like I might be doing the journey with Amelia by myself on the way over as dh can't have too much time off work. WOuld prob fly to Heathrow too as I think my mil is going to pick us up and drive us up north from there. are you still planning on going?

hello everyone
Yes I am getting more sleep thanks Anna - I have moved out of the bedroom and onto the sofa, and DS is sleeping through until around 6//6.15 most nights which is a HUGE improvement

now we just need to crack on and get the sunroom habitable so he can go in there and we can get our bedroom back. have been to the doctor today about my unrelenting tiredness and dizzyness and have had blood tests for everything under the sun - we'll see if the pathetic state I'm in is entirely due to the lack of sleep or not

I am going to be in Wellington on Sat 9th and Sun 10th Feb but as I've said to Welliemum in the CAT message I sent her, I think it's going to be fairly mad & busy, unless anyone happens to be in town anyway to meet for a coffee at some point

I know a few mothers and babies now but it's taken a while. I met one person via the Plunket postnatal adjustment woman, and through her another woman whose daughter is DD's best friend now; we started going to this playgroup and now know lots more people. I've also met a couple of people via music stuff, and I already knew twentypence from here - I met her through mumsnet! it takes a while though and at times - especially just after I had DS - it just seemed too huge an undertaking and I felt SO lonely. I had a lovely antenatal group in the UK who became best friends and I missed them a lot. One just had her second baby yesterday and I'd love to see him

MrsJC, unfortunately I will be in the Wairarapa next weekend otherwise would love to meet for a coffee.
Beatrix now in her cot in a separate room to start the night, then moved in to my room for and after early morning feed. Have had some success with 2 nights in a row where she slept 7-8 hours altho last night back to old habits and
Anna, no have made hard decision not to take trip. Too much money basically. And altho would love to see my bro and family, that's not quite good enough reason. Instead hope to put money into buying new computer set up with webcam and Skype etc so we can talk to them more and better.
It will be lovely for you to have that to look forward to - even if some of it is very bittersweet (and I'm sure you're not looking forward to the journey itself!).

Is there anyone in NZ who has a 9yo daughter that would like a snailmail penapal? DD is in to most things, and really wants one since dd2 has found one. I can see that you've all mostly got young children, but do they/their friends have any older siblings at school? I think she'd be quite a conscientions penpal!

TIA, and sorry for the hijack.

My email's madamebutterfly @ ntl world dot com (with no spaces, obviously).

We're in Oxford, btw

Can understand that, Buzzy, its such a long journey, not to mention the cost. If i do one way by myself I'm thinking of stopping for a day or two in the middle, then it's just two 11 hour flights, which seems a lot more manageable. I remember when I considered a 4 hour flight long-haul!

At the mo Amelia is very placid but who knows how she will be by July, she'll be 8 months so a lot more active. I'm sure I'll manage though. I actually really need to go back for practical reasons, I have stuff at my mum's house still that I need to sort out.

Speaking of which, I am thinking of shipping some stuff over from the UK, maybe a few bits of furniture - more for sentimental reasons than anything else. I've never brought stuff over before - what shipping companies did everyone use ? Would you recommend them?

SOrry 2sugars, I don't know any older kids. Heck, I don't even know any other babies! Hope someone else can help

LOL!! Thanks anyway, Anna

2sugars I have a neighbour with a girl about that age - I'll ask! My DD1 is almost 6 so a bit too young.

Anna, I have used Allied Pickfords from NZ to the UK and Crown from the UK to NZ. Both were fine.

Beatrix has had a very unsettled evening - every time I thought she'd finally gone down she woke again. But hopefully out for the count now! Fingers crossed for a good night now that she's worn herself out

oh that's a shame buzzy
I think I'm going to be really rushing around anyway so it's probably no bad thing

Anna, we used a company called GB LIners, based in EAling - they were really good. they used NZ Van Lines this end

DS is cutting a molar it is HIDEOUS

2sugars, sorry don't know any older kids really but if I think of anyone will let you know

Anna, I've done the trip several times with kids, and a couple of times on my own wtih them (without DP, that is), so feel free to quiz me when its closer to the time! Also, I used Excess Baggage and they were crap - so avoid.
Mrs JC - I may be around if you and Welliemum are meeting up, but don't stress - sounds like it will be mad.
2sugars, maybe able to rustle up someone for you if Buzzy's neighbour doesn't work out.
Had to get jabs for LO this morning . Her little face just did me in. Isn't it awful. The only bonus is that she's been nice and sleepy all day...

Shells, Amelia had her jabs too - her 3 month ones - yesterday. She screamed like a good 'un. She had a bit of a temp last night but is fine today - just sleepy.

I just went to watch "Juno" at the cinema, very highly recommended - brilliant film. A slept through most of it and fed the rest of the time.

I will be quizzing people about flights with baby nearer the time - I know there have been threads about it before so I'll search the archives too.

Hi All

Sorry, have been a bit of a ghostie the last week or 2 - limited time at the computer.

MrsJC, I realise you'll be busy and I think you should make it easy for yourself and not plan too much, but I'll email you my phone number and if by a miracle you find you're free and keen for a coffee - just drop me a text. I have Shells' number too.

Last 2 international moves were Unaccompanied Luggage UK to Singapore (no furniture) and then Crown for Singapore to NZ. Both were fine.

2sugars, don't know any 9 year olds offhand, but will ask around!

Wishing good sleep on all the babies, including big teething ones....

I also disappeared for a while, and am back with baby Iris, born on 21 January. I was getting all smug about what a beautifully behaved baby she is (just sleeps and eats and never cries) until a friend told me most newborns are like that because they're so stunned to be out of the womb.

So we probably shouldn't have got ahead of ourselves and promised to visit the UK relatives in July and the Australian ones in September. That's an awful lot of time in the air if she doesn't remain the sedate little thing she is now....

Congratulations 9 Dragons. Iris is a lovely name. How was the birth?

Thank you, you're very kind to say.

Birth was ok - it was an elective c-section because she was biggish, the cord was around her neck and I had high BP. I have to admit I was a bit nervous about the whole idea of surgery but the doctors were very good, it went without a hitch and I was back in my room with my husband and baby an hour later.

The hospital was excellent - each room has an extra bed for the husband and a cot for the baby, so we spent a week tucked up in bed en famille watching DVDs and looking at the snow falling outside. That bit was bliss!