Fantastic 40+ Mums

[Hpbp]

Mum of 2, DS1 nearly 4yo and DD2 almost 11 weeks. I hope to find here advices from experienced mums so that I can avoid mistakes... I made some with DS1 and my life sometimes is hell, it is hard to unlearn wrong behaviour, so hard.
At the time being, DD2 is a very sweet baby, she is easy to decipher, cries are always related to some kind of discomfort and I managed to learn what they mean, or almost. Only one issue with her ATM is that she rejects bottle feeding even with expressed milk. I'd like to be able to escape a bit from the house to get a haircut or a facial. And I am sure DH would like to feed her sometimes too.
I struggle a bit more with DS1, who is usually a good boy, energetic, happy and loving. But after school, getting him to take his bath is a battle and falling and staying asleep all night are big issues. The problems did exist before but now with the recent arrival of his sister, the intensity has increased. Or maybe they are the same but to me they seem bigger and need to be addressed quickly so that I can look after both without raising my voice.
All advice are welcome. I need help here.

Also I'd like to invite all the graduates from the Fantastic 40+ Mums to be thread to join. You have been truly fantastic and so supportive during my pg. I hope to be able to keep on sharing with you this wonderful parenting adventure.

On - Midget, do you mean the bar of St Pancras hotel?...

Hey ladies. Looking forward to hearing how lovely your first meet will go!

Baby monkey had a good sleep two lots of three hour session which was great. He woke a few times crying but patted to sleep again and first time dp has not had to have him on his chest at 5 in the morning. I have him laid on me snuggling which is lovely and a good excuse to be lazy

Hey hey LRM, you must be thrilled ! That is a lot of sleep ! Bravo baby M.
Eagleray, can you still bend on your knees at 35/36 weeks ? Impressive... Well, your arm and hand in dark oak! you can join the zombie party already :)
Anastasia slept until midnight and woke up for a feed, that was strange, she has not done that for ages.... Then at 6.30 because her brother woke her up, now still sleeping, hope she will behave at the posh andlovely meeting we have later on. That s if I can find you lot !!!

To be honest, Goat and Midget, can we keep things simple and meet in the Betjeman Arms in St Pancras station on the Grand Terrace ? At least, I will not get lost.... see you later ladies, you have my mobile number....

Well done baby monkey! Baby seaside also had a better night, so i have had about 4 hrs sleep and im determined to head back for another nap in a minute, although she is far too fascinated in the sound of rain on the windows right now. she's right, it does sound lovely

eagleray hehe sounds like an excuse to buy nice rug. no more staining - get on that sofa!

hope to see you on skype later ladies :) Will try to get dressed but little chance of brushed hair im afraid x

betjamen arms it is - we can always have one in there and go posh next time if we fancy it. Whoever gets there first there are comfy seats which I think are by a fire - try and grab those. See you there.

On my way. Looking forward to seeing you

Hello! Hope your meeting is going well and that you got your fireside seats!

I am just home after last hospital cons appt before birth. 35 weeks today, and have all sorts of plans and things in place now, which is nice.

I can still get on all fours to dye the floor but can't squat as it kills my legs. I must look like some sort of very special interest S&M lady as have a big rubber mask on my head when I'm doing the woodwork due to the chemicals in the dye...

Working from home today and going to treat myself to a rest in bed this afternoon - hope the rest of you have a nice restful day x

eagleray wow you are nearly there now! whats the birthplan?

Hope you all found each other. With you in spirit. J is wonderful. Mid 6 week growth spurt, but only coughing occasionally and down to one vom a day on average. I love him so much

Well, BG and I didn't make it in the end We got as far as Wembley Park and the trains were suspended, resulting in a heaving mass of random elbows and flat feet on the platform. It was so cold and wet that I just turned round and came home, as they said it could be half an hour before anything was running again. And there were so many stressed people trying to run hither and yon that I was a little scared for BG, who was in a sling. Oh well, hopefully next time, and maybe lots of you from outside London will make it too!

Hope midget and bbd had a wonderful time, though!

Back home under pouring rain... But it was worth it ! Very nice to meet baby M and Midget. So sorry Goat you went out in this weather with baby G and could not make it. Surely next time there will be more of us. The Booking Office - or waiting room as Midget called it !- is very posh and lovely indeed and easy to find. Anastasia enjoyed looking around. Seaside, LRM, the internet connection was so bad we just could not Facetime. Will ask Midget to PM you some pics.
VQ, very very happy baby J is feeling better.
Eagleray, ho ho, nearly meeting your LO, have a nice rest this afternoon !

Midget, did you get to your destination on time btw ?

Hey gang. Sound like everyone had a good day. Sorry did not make it goat bloody trAnsport system. Really look forward to seeing pics.
Eagle. Good lord women u r a machine with all your diy. Hope your feet r up. Not long honey. Bet u r excited.
Vq. So pleased little one better. U can have a well deserved Christmas.

Right who has the tin of quality streets '!!

Lrm, can your phone receive pics ? Tried but got delivery failure back...

Yes it can. Did u get the one I just sent u

Sorry to hear the Goats didn't make it to the meet - it is proper shitty out there today. I am feeling ill and am sure it is to do with the vile weather. Currently tucked up in bed with a hot water bottle and Gaviscon.

I will be there next time - with a baby of some description! (either up my jumper still or in a pram)

Birth plan is based on optimism but includes worst-case scenario options too. Between 37 and 40+3, if labour starts, I will stay at home and transfer in if any issues/failure to progress, but remain at home and have baby there if everything ok.

Stretch and sweep will be booked for around 38 weeks, and induction booked for 40+3 but told I can cancel/postpone that if I want closer to the time.

Decided not to go for MLU option as there are 3 locally but they are all some distance (10 miles +) from the main hospital, and frankly would rather transfer from home to hospital (2 miles) than from out in the sticks.

Obstetrician (saw senior one this time) was v sensible and straightforward but she started talking about stillbirth risks (we were having a general discussion about what research was being done regarding older women) and I suddenly realised how my life would be over if that happened and I burst into tears. Blinkin' babies! I never used to have this problem when I was single and thinking only about my next holiday....

VQ - glad you have turned a corner regarding voms and illness, and that baby J brings you so much joy!

Seaside - I ordered the BabyBay finally! Got a little help from a German-speaking colleague, although he was a little flummoxed by some of the terminology. Am hoping though that I have ordered a standard cot, with a nice mattress, plus a sheet (or something that looks like a sheet)

Next on shopping list are bras (boobs are finally growing and getting painful), nappies, TENS and a sling.

LRM - great to hear you have made some progress with sleep. The sleep deprivation sounds terrifying. Hopefully you will be turning a corner soon and having longer periods of sleep.

BBD/Midget - hope you had fun earlier today - have just taken a look at the Booking Office website and it looks great. I had visions of you sat in a cold waiting room on a train platform for some reason...

Eagle, are you feeling better ? Your birth plan looks very comprehensive. You are much braver than me, first baby and homebirth, I don't have your treshold of pain definitively. But you will have TENS, it will help. My contractions after the sweep were strong and regular for 3 hours and every 2 minutes, and they were not even proper labour contractions !
LRM, have you sent the pics on the number I used to text you earlier today ? I have not received it. I just tried sending pics again on your number and failed again. Weird...

Oh oh oh, I want to see the red monkeys too! I will swap you a couple of goats!
bbd did you get the texts I sent you this morning?

Yep ! I did but did not reply, too busylooking for Midget ! Sorry....

How is babyG this evening ? How is his cold ? Going away gently ?

Bbh. Weird phones just sent pic to u again on number u gave me earlier.

Goat pm u my mobile no.
Anyone else like my number let me know and would love to see your little ones I will send pic of baby monkey

blueblackdye MidgetM hope you had fun, what a pity you couldn't get there, goat
eagleray Very comprehensive, but mine will have to be like that as I live in the middle of no-where...

I know what you mean, a few weeks ago was planning DH and I running around Europe with gay abandon when DD goes of to uni in a couple of years....now have baby-head on!

Oh, it is only 8.50pm and I feel like it is 2 am... So tired tonight. DH is at his xmas party, DC are in bed, DS is snoring, and Anastasia woke up twice screaming as if someone pinched her, could not settle her with the usual shhh, checked her nappy and removed her socks, kissed her a million times, put her back in her cot, kissed her again 2 million times, it worked ! She fell asleep on her own. Hope DH won't get too pissed. Going to bed now.
Hope every one has a good night sleep and weather will be more clement tomorrow

Greetings old folk. I am well and truly stuffed after eating with HP and then again after DD's nativity. A lovely day, just wish I had got to meet you all. We took pictures of our food - just to tease you all. I managed to make it in time (ie an hour early - pushy mummy) to the nativity and was rewarded with a seat but then an old lady even older than us stood by me so I had to give it to her. I hate doing the decent thing . Be really nice to arrange another kings cross meet up when more can make it. Don't think goat can do 14th so maybe should try another date too. Big waves to you all. Must go eat chocolate.