Further freakingly fantabulous adventures of the 40+ Mummies

[10000Fireflies]

For gorgeous, frolicking and fabulous 40-somethings to share the joys of becoming a Mummy, just a little bit later than most!! . Park your zimmer-frame next to your baby buggy, put your feet up, and come and join us in the snug.

Midget re alcohol and BF, I know why master Midge was sleeping so much now !!! You are a brilliant and so funny Mum !
Wonder how Fjord is doing. Has anyone heard from Exexe ?

eagle sorry it's tough at the mo but sounds like you are doing great in the face of the barmy army of hcps at your door. As the others have said, bloody well ignore them if you need to. Wish I had... Have learned to now! Am also with lrm nct helpline and La Leche both fab for advice and home help.

bbd what a fab sounding holiday. not jealous at all oh no what was in the cookery classes? Can you make those yummy things you list now? We'll all be round shortly! Re sheepskin, do it... I was brought up on those, literally - had one in the bed rather than a hot water bottle, snug as a bug every night. Might bring a couple back with me when we go to NZ in July.

Wow to the sleeping lrm clever baby monkey. BG has a cold at the mo so coughed and snuffled and yelled and puked his way through the night. Still semi-comatose.

We had a lovely anniversary dinner yesterday at the place we got engaged. Food was fab, they gave us free champagne, and as DH said, it was novel to have a leisurely, uninterrupted meal!

midget are you on a culinary journey around Europe's desserts? Sachertorte and now tarte au citron...

Hey goat sorry to hear baby goat not well. Colds suck. Lucky baby monkey not been ill since November. Best keep my mouth shut dont want to tempt any germs into the house. I must admit if anyone says they have a cold massive wide berth and ya. Ain't coming over till it's gone. Mummy doesnt want poorly baby. Hugs to mummy and baby goat. So glad you had a lovely meal. My birthday Thursday so off out for lunch as dinner will packed valentines day.

Goat placed an order today for a Merino sheepskin rug, looking forward to receiving it, decided if we like it to get some more for DS and cushions for grown ups!
Hope baby Goat feels better soon. Hate it when LO are poorly.
Anastasia has decided to skip morning naps, oh dear.... She has been very good with food lately, likes bread with cumin or oregano, banana, orange, brocolis puree, watermelon ! Going to a starting solid workshop on Tuesday. She can now sit unaided for 30 seconds. And new games: arching her back to say Mum, pick me up ! Knitting with her legs when trying to push and bring toys nearer to her hands ! Pulling my hair to chew my nose ! So funny ! I love this age, 6 months, babies start to react with smiles, laugh outloud, chat, can play a bit on their own.... Oh, Elimination Communication did not work as well as I wanted, will wait now for better weather to try again.
Happy Chinese New Year to all ! Year of the Snake. Sent DH for take away at Royal China on Baker Street, he justed called: queue is 4 miles long and no take away available today but menu for 10 at GBP 800, right, I will improvise a Chinese meal then.
Talking about fod and in reply to Goat Morrocan cookery class was a joke, the cook was very elusive, did not like him at all. Bought some spices though in the souk, ginger, tagine and 4 spices. Have not tried yet but will do soon.
Performed second haircut on Anastasia, her fringe this time, 1st time was the back of her neck. Shame she won't have light curly hair as her brother. DS had haircut too, he is a proper little boy now, not a baby, not a toddler, a little master, who is having a playdate on his own atm... where have the past 4 years gone ? I miss so much the first years...

BBD - re sheepskins - I was very luck and was given a couple of little ones by a neighbour who had bought them for her daughter. Hadn't thought to get any before this and they have been great for lining the cot and making it extra cosy.

LRM - hope you had a lovely lunch, and that it makes up for not getting dinner out on the 14th (hate the silliness in restaurants on this date!)

Goat - sorry baby goat is ill - wishing him a speedy recovery

Thanks for all the kind advice re feeding issues - we have been getting on with the feeding regime, and I have been expressing religiously in the hope that I will start to see an increase in supply. Can now do a whole ounce at a time! It's quite disappointing to see such piddly amounts, but each time I do it, it's a tiny bit more than before. Been feeling quite rough today - bit like having flu but without the fever. Also got a slightly upset stomach which is probably from the antibiotics. Managed to take Baby Eagle out in the car into town for a visit to a cafe on my own though - bit of a dress rehearsal for surviving this week as DP off tomorrow to work until Friday. Have now proved to myself that I can cope with car seat, car, sling and walking around without dropping baby. Hadn't banked on being stopped by strangers in town though who wanted to admire the baby!

MW due any minute for another weigh-in - this is a bit like Weightwatchers in reverse...

eagle. Sounds like u have had a fab day out and about and so they should be admiring her she is lovely. Good job with the sling and car seat. See you are a motoring mummy today you should be very chuffed with yourself. Hope you feel better in the morning. Few slices of toast and a nice cup of tea/coffee.

Bbd. Brought back memories of when I was little and my mum and dad visited New Zealand and they brought back 5 sheepskin rugs. I thought they were massive and could not get my head around the shape of the sheep compared to the rug shape. I got into trouble once as I put my gum on one of the rugs and as you can imagine it had to be cut out. Oh dear silly me. Memories of my childhood and a rug. Haha.

reading and will catch up soon have mastitis and feel like poo :(

I have redecorated the snug. Back to warm glowing fire. Large sofas each with a duvet and massive pillows. Sheepskin rugs on the floor so no cold toes. Nanny for each one of our bundles. Tray of food of your choice. All welcome. Good girlie gossip for ff. Valium. Bbd. Bythesea. Goat exexe. Eagle. Midget. Scarecrow.
Plus I have birthday cake ready for Thursday would love u all to have a slice with me

re mastitis seaside are you on antibiotics? Hope you feel better soon. lrm 's newly decorated snug should help make you feel better, come and recline on the sofa and we will give you your own personal waiter.

LRM Here is my present for your birthday: no sleep deprivation for the next 12 months and good health for baby M and you. Like the new snug. Will have hot dark tea woth your cake, please.
Seaside, mastitis ? Poor you. How did that happen ? Hope you recover soon. How s little angel ? Is she a good girl ?
Snowing a lot in London

Eagle, thinking of you today, give us a shout if you need anything

Wow eagle - you are doing amazingly. Keep eye on those flu-like symptoms. Keep in touch if you need any moral support, or see you in snug.

LRM - thanks for including me in snug plans. Feel a fraud, what with still being pg, but 30wks today and baby scarecrow coming by ELCS at 38-39 weeks (s/he banned arr before) so v much in last stretch. Plus getting nervous about (a) health of LO and (b) bonding with him/her (logically silly as adore children, jut usual mum's worry when love Dc1 so much). So popping in for some practice will be good for me. I have a couple of good soothing tricks too

BBD, I thought DCs supposed drop one if three daily naps at 6mo?! Does A still do two other naps? Or just one now?

Goat, hope babyGoat better or well on mend.

Waves all

Seaside, how rude of me sorry about mastitis. Hope you got good drugs, and pple looking after you. Take v good care

Bbd. Love my present. Best thing ever
Xxxxxxxx.

Ladies any tips to help me with day naps. Every two hours he yawns rubs his eyes ready for a nap. I try soon as he gives me signals. I wait a bit. He naps in the same room. Nice and dim. I have to rock him to sleep. Tried leaving him goes nuts and too young to go nuts. Any tricks you guys have to not enduring a world war two air raid siren in my ear every two hours. Oh I have a headache

LRM, it could be by the time he yawns he's OT, or in the annoying language of those busy-body-smug books you have "missed the window"! If it happens pretty regularly, maybe try putting him down ten mins before signals. You may have noticed some pre-yawn behaviour?
It might even be worth introducing a little pre nap 'routine' like a short book, a song and a little phrase. That way if it works he will later associate that with napping even if he is OT.

If that has been tried/doesn't work, some other OT ideas include white noise (I have not used but am v impressed by results; many apps available), or reassurance techniques like shush-pat etc. (that one Baby Whisperer I think, certainly Bw blog site will have lots of non-cry-it-out suggestions).

It might be worth dealing with one issue at a time. ie. if you now rock him to sleep, start by getting him to fall asleep not being rocked (even in crib) but with you there, just gently reassuring him with voice in the room, or with hand on tummy. When that is working withdraw hand. Then gradually withdraw from the room. Instinct etc will tell you the right times/etc.

Finally my view would be devise a plan that works for you and baby monkey, then stick to it for a few days, at least. Consistency is important. And you might feel (and radiate) calmer if you have committed to a system for a while. Also I used to give a time limit to myself in advance, for similar reasons, but don't then rock to sleep - do something else like sing a couple or rhymes then go for a buggy walk - even if he naps in buggy you have not rocked him to sleep

Forgive me if all too obvious or old hat. I am a veteran of napping, er, issues, but you might be a lot more experienced or talented at this than I was

Hope it goes well
Sx

Agree with Scarecrow. LRM, I leave Anastasia to play in her cot about 10 minutes before her nap time, she usually settles herself. First time it happened was an accident. Onemorning I fed her and put her back in her cot to have a shower, when I came back, she was sleeping soundly ! I now leave her to play in her cot while I am tidying up my bed, organising my drawers so that she is used being in her cot and does not only associate cot with sleep.
Scarecrow, Anastasia is 6 months and 2 weeks, she wakes up quite late in the morning, so I guess she does not need the morning nap anymore. I still put her down but she plays or sleeps for 20 minutes. She still naps after lunch and sleeps again in the pram around 4.30pm when I pick up herbrother at nursery.

Thanks ladies. I have tried the patting he goes nuts and I try not to leave it too long must admit it's getting me down. I dont notice any other signals besides the yawns and eye rubbing. Should I try first yawn and ignore the clock and see what he does. First yawn draw curtains read story and put in basket?

Just closed curtains. Read story. Walked around for a moment. Put in basket. Was ok for a moment. Then started crying. Patted. No joy. Picked up walked around back in basket. All ok. Will try again Tuesday morning. Thanks my lovelys as always. Especially taking the time to reply xxxxxxxx

LRM I went for a walk for late pm nap. Had lost will by then!! I would time yawns and do as BBD suggests and put LM in crib before he yawns? Worth a try.
Agree shush-pat sounds tiring for LO. I just put hand on tummy (ie still) sometimes, maybe odd gentle rub.
Why am I advising?! Am no expert!!

BBD yes sounds like she just doesn't need lie in (!) plus post lunch and pm nap. What is her bed time?

My dd dropped late pm nap first but she did long morning nap an shorter afternoon/post lunch nap. She was up 6.30-7 and in bed asleep at 7.
Oh how I now dream of 6.30 starts! Though DD is vg otherwise, just an early riser and her mummy is not by nature!

LRM just keep on trying, you will find a way to make him nap, don't lose hope ! I find that if I feel mad inside, Anastasia feels it and is even more difficult to settle. So try to stay calm, yoga and deep breathing. Some days are easier than others !
Scarecrow Anastasia is in bed between 6.30 and 8pm, wakes up between 5 and 7am, feeds and usually falls back straight away asleep until 9.30/10am ! She then goes down around noon, sometimes for 45 min, sometimes 2h ! And then another short nap around 4.30pm. Forgive me but Can't remember how old your DD is. And how far are you in this second pg ?
Got rid today of her 6 months sleepsuits, they fit just too perfectly, afraid she has not enough room to move.... But if 9 months suits look so big, once on, they are actually ok.

Hey bbd. You made me smile. Do yoga. I do actually do squats while holding on to him and leg lunges walking through the hall. Lost 20 pounds 36 more to go. Thats lots of hours x training and weight lifting.

lrm sympathies on the naps. The days that BG doesn't nap I feel frazzled. He does seem to need to cry a bit before sleeping though, a few minutes only. But I am lucky that he still naps. Now nights are a different story!! Went to his paediatrician check up today. All good but not discharged yet as some asymmetry of movement he had a bleed on the brain at birth, nothing major but enough to make mummy worried now. He seems to be ok, trying to walk now!
seaside how are you doing?
Aw bbd going up a size in sleep suit always brings a pang, yes?
scarecrow enjoy your last weeks!
Hello everyone else hope you are getting lots of sleep

Bbd my DD now 2y 1m - I swapped her to short 20-40m or so in buggy and did some sleep training for longer lunch nap (happily only took 2-3 days) at 10ish months. Ironically she now fab napper (usu 2+hrs in day). Friends say I shd cap that nap so she sleeps longer mornings (usu awake before 6 though she's not got up til 6.10am) but I need nap at weekends too much so have knowingly made choice.

I think it's all compromise. DD sleeps amazingly in her cot: settles, resettles, whatever. But v hard, almost imposs to get to sleep out and about so quite restrictive. Again we chose that so have embraced the compromise. It's for so little time in the end.

I'm 30 wks today: due CS c 39 weeks (mid April) DH booking holiday ferry today had to fill in name sex and dob for DC2: he picked girl, 16/4, called Parsley (I think , maybe )

Hurrah - have survived first day home alone!

Since DP left this morning, I have changed 5 shitty nappies, done 7 BFs, 6 formula feeds, expressed 4 times, washed and dried 10 babygros, and taken 80 photos of Baby Eagle.

Baby E is absolutely wired this eve - she hasn't slept at all since teatime, refuses to lie down and wants to feed, feed, feed.

She was weighed yesterday and had only put on 20g in 2 days, a pretty negligible amount. On the plus side, she is full of beans, holding her head well, and seems to be trying to smile! Got another weigh-in tomorrow, so hoping that shows some gain...

Sorry for monologue - wanted to chat more but madam is shrieking again and I need to go to bed... Mum arriving Wednesday and staying for the rest of the week - getting to the point now where I will appreciate the help and will ignore the criticism

Oh, and lab results show there is no infection after all, so I have ditched the antibiotics a day early (bit naughty) and am feeling less nauseous today which is a result

Night night everyone