May Babies... part 2!

[GeorginaA]

... just because we can't stop yammering on

well would you believe it - went and swaddled her and she went off to sleep, and still is - 2 hours later. she must be reading this board when i'm not looking

Egypt, theylook really good although I must resist. I'd cleared my overdraft while on maternity leave but this month my pay went down to half pay, unfortunetly my spending didnt and im now back up to a 500 pound overdraft I just keep seeing lots of good toys and nice outfits etc..
MIL has DD this afternoon and I feel guilty because really I should be catching up on some sleep but instead ive been tidying, sorting out photo albums and on mumsnet.

Your DD sounds like mine egypt, they must have some sort of plan together. My DD will not sleep unless in something that moves or being rocked by me. Sometimes if shes being really fussy shell fall asleep while rocking and then as soon as I sit down with her she wakes straight back up.

DD doesnt sleep much in the day at all. She sleeps for 45mins in the morning and then the rest of the day its just 10 minutes here or there. In total she probably sleeps for about 2 hours all day. Mostly its in the pram if were out. She used to always go to sleep in the car but has now decided that she doesnt like it and so will cry instead of falling asleep. Yesterday she was so knackered and I had loads to do, I ended up putting her in her swing on super fast speed where she fell asleep for 1 hour. Now feel guilty mind.
Im envious of all those babies who happily fall asleep on their own after playing etc.
Last week DD was tired and fell asleep in my arms once put in the cot she awoke, then fell asleep in my arms again but woke once in the cot. In the end as she wasnt crying I laid her in her cot where she laid for 2 hrs!! playing and gurgling with the hope she may nod off. Needless to say she didnt. I keep trying to put her in the cot while shes tired but it never works. Ive also tried putting her in the bouncy chair or pram in the garden. Its as if she has a inbuilt radar that says ' im not moving anywhere and im not being cuddled so therefore I will not go to sleep'

Yes DD applied for a call centre manager job within the same company and was told last week he had it. Its on the same salary and it will mean working some evenings etc but that will be better for when im back in work. It also means no more travelling or nights away. horrayy..

Oh that's brilliant kbaby you must be relieved! hope he is looking forward to the change...

My DD too will only sleep daytimes in her baby carrier as I think I've grumbled about before. But I've sort of stopped trying recently as DH has been on holiday and so I can get on with things while he holds her. (As he is doing at the moment). Sometimes it suits me fine that I can take her out without needing to be home for her naps. But when he is back at work (tomorrow) we'll be at the coal face again. He has played with her SO MUCH that I'm worried that I can't keep her in the manner to which she's become accustomed! I am apt to believe that watching me put up a pulley is stimulating enough for a girl of her age; unfortunately she doesn't quite agree with that.

thats great news kbaby

Other halves on holiday are great aren't they? I can't believe how much I've managed to do so far and I still have another 1.5 weeks (sorry Spots!) to go - now it is just a question of keeping everything the way I've put it!

We had a manic weekend with 2 people-filled barbecues and 1 family visit with an over-excited granny within 3 days so lots and lots of faces and not much rest has made DS a mardy bum today. The weather in Lowestoft was muggy and rainy, whereas today has been lovely again . . . harrumph. Granny is returning to New Zealand next week and so it was her last viewing of DS until we save enough pennies to go over - so masses of cuddles can be forgiven.

He also takes after his dad and watches too much sports TV, everytime I turn my back he is glued to it!

sorry kbaby, meant to add that I am really pleased for your DH! shame about the half pay, it isn't fun is it? still need to do my sums about returning . . .

Only 8 weeks to go, don't want to know at all!

message withdrawn

what's your job libb? I know there are a couple of teachers here (egypt and kbaby if i'm right)... not wanting to dwell on the subject of work... but am curious!

Sorry - meant the DTwP et al, not Infanrix.

BTW Twiglett - how's the new pushchair?

Well my DH has been on holiday this week, and DS off nursery (he goes Tues-Thurs) and I've got loads less done and the house is a tip. DH has been constantly tired all week and threatening to go to the doctor's about it which is all a bit much when I'm the one who was up at 12, 2, 4 and then awake from 6.30 doing feeds (what has happened to DD?) with a dirty nappy thrown in. Suppose I should be a bit more sympathetic really.

Went to The Deep at Hull today which DS loved - especially the sharks and the Nemo fish - and DD was forward in the baby carrier with huge eyes. Then went into York in the afternoon. DS giddy about going on the Park + Ride.

message withdrawn

Glad you're loving the pushchair, I'm a big fan too! So nice after the big bulky M&P pram we had (although I loved that too for different reasons!)

I asked earlier but is your dd's belly button healing well now?

Actually, I'm a bit gutted we missed the boat with the 5-in-1. I'm fairly confident with the Canadian safety record and it has the two things I really wanted ds2 to have - no mercury and the aP and all that in just one injection instead of the miriads of injections he's having now which I find quite distressing, even though logically I know it's for his "own good". Unfortunately with the timings, ds2 will have finished his course before it's even available Then again, I have 2 friends who are due in October - I'm rather relieved they won't have to go through the battle I've just been through just to get mercury free...

ah Yes Egypt it goes fast. WE got dd1 a camera, not an expensive one just one from the Early Learning Centre which she loves and has spent all day taking photo's. She also got clothes and a swing ball game, a Sindy doll, money, vouchers, the usual.

she really wanted to go out into the garden today to play with the Swingball game but since it's rained non stop since Monday morning there was no chance of that happening. The weather has been so bad, we went to see the river yesterday and it was really high. Well today they've had to shut the A9 motorway because of a landslide and they had villages near us on the news because they were flooding. DD1 and I were up at 6.45am this morning watching the rain it was so heavy that it woke us up. Dh and dd2 slept through it though. Going to buy dd1's school uniform tomorrow, back to school next week.

I've struck a slight problem when dd2 wants to sleep during the day. If we're in our house it's fine I pop her in the moses basket. If we're out in the pram she sleeps fine, but if we're at my granny's house she won't sleep! I guess it's good that she has sleep associations with the moses basket but it makes it a bit harder if we're out in another house. Oh well not to worry.

I asked the HV about the 5 in 1 jab and she said that they'd been told they won't get it in for another 8 weeks, but maybe that's just my health authority I don't know.

Libb do you really go back to work in 8 weeks time? Did you have the full 26 weeks off? Seems to have gone in awfully fast. I don't go back until December, seems ages away but not really that long at all.

Glad to hear about your Dh's job Kbaby.

I have been bending DP's ear about the 5 in 1 vaccination but it fell on deaf ears as he was snoozing far too quietly for me to notice - don't you hate that?

Twiglett, small prams/pushchairs are a life saver aren't they? My three wheeler gubbins is restricted to car journeys and long walks now . . . I really hope your DD's tummy button is better now by the way.

Spots, my job is/will be back at the local Magistrates Court, I endorsed the driving licences of speed offenders before I left (yes, Little Miss Popular) - When I go back I think it will be dealing with the family cases going to court - I dare say I will be having many tearful days (seeing what some people are capable of) when I come home . Shall be clinging to DS like you can't imagine!

yep, approx. 8/9 weeks - phoned work last week and they have confirmed I could use some annual leave at the end if needs be. oh thanks, yay, hurrah.

Linnet, I was indulgent and took 5 weeks before DS came (had an inclination that he would be early and was intending to prepare in the meantime, failed on all counts). Really wish I hadn't as financial needs are calling so must head back sooner rather than later - shall go kicking, screaming and doing me damnest to not let it happen in the meantime. Call it a lesson learnt . . .

Libb, you'll know for next time to work as long as possible

I finished work 5 weeks early with dd1 and she was 10 days late, was also hoping for an early arrival that didn't happen. Back then you only got 18 weeks paid leave so I had to go back when dd1 was only 12/13 weeks old. Dd2 is 12 weeks old this week and looking at her I can't believe that I had to go back so early when I had dd1. Didn't do her any harm though.

This time around I worked up until 2 weeks before my due date, of course not everyone can do this depending on what job they do. I was really glad that I'd done that though as since I'm not having any more children I really appreciate the time I'm having at home with dd2. My maternity leave ends at the end of October but I have 6 weeks holiday that I'm tacking onto the end which is why I'm not going back until December, pity I hadn't had more leave then I could have waited until January, oh well not to worry.

message withdrawn

gawd you lot were up late. i was in bed by 9 ZZZZzzzzz. awake again at 10.30 though

what pushchair did you get twiglett? our mothercare urban detour is very bulky and heavy, but wouldn't dare to suggest to dh that we get another one, as i fought so hard for it, when he wanted the super light and foldy jane one. with the extra super light matrix car seat - (wish had done now)

cant believe that work is creeping up so soon for you. i'm not going back actually. told them a couple of weeks after dd was born. always knew i wouldnt but didnt want to burn my bridges. how we'll manage i'm not sure. there's so much to do and dh wants to extend the house! how may i ask?!?! i will prob do a few days' supply now and then just to keep hand in and keep me sane - or not as the case may be! what are you doing kbaby??

DS said his first word yesterday! I put him on the changing mat and turned to speak to DP and he said OI! I know it wasn't really his first but it was a surreal moment . . .

Ah bless Twiglett, I love those baby bellies too - especially when blowing raspberries!

Not much happening here. DD has learnt how to make screaching noises and also now recognises my boob so if im getting undressed etc she starts making goldfish actions with her mouth and getting all excited, bless her.
last night was ok woke at 2+6 for a feed.
I just need to find a way to stop her waking just to be reswaddled or for comforting then at least id only be up once at night.

Cant remember who mentioned it but i'm not a teacher. I work for a electricity company as a customer services manager. I go back to work beginning of November which i'm dreading. I took 7 weeks off before dd was born as I kept having contractions so I had to finish early. Ive got 4 weeks leave which im adding on to the end. Seems a shame that if I hadnt finished early I would have a extra 7 weeks. Never mind, lesson learnt.

What age can you use the forward way on a sling?

Oh DD's been told that with the new job he doesnt get a company car but instead gets a allowance to use instead. This means he cant afford the saab, which is a shame as i'd spent ages trying to find a new buggy, I was secretly happy to get a buggy as the m&p converse is a knightmare trying to get it into my boot, but I didnt want to admit it as it cost a fortune and I spent ages deciding that I wanted that one and convincing DP.

forgot to add im glad im not the only one who gets annoyed when dp says hes tired.
last night dd woke at 4 and just needed resettling, when i asked him to do it as id been up once already his response was 'well youve woken me now so i suppose ill have to'
he thinks that as i dont have a job ang get to sit around the house all day that i should be the one up all night arghhh...

enough ranting

oops, sorry kbaby. Don't know where I got that idea from. Now I'm all interested to know what everyone does, but perhaps you're all getting sick of my hearty mingly converstional gambits. I am thinking about work too at the moment because various projects demand a little investment even now, which is scary. Not even paid, dagnammit. Just easing the load for Xmas theatre show which we have been offered. Maternity leave into freelance career does not go.

Egypt that's an exciting decision to have made! Well done... I think I will end up spending a lot of time SAHM'ing as I don't want anyone else to care for DD and would rather work around her. My work partner is v. sympathetic to this, as she has two dd's of her own and did a similar thing herself... But to be honest now that I'm looking at the work in the flesh I'm not sure how it's going to be possible. In principle I've agreed to two jobs next year, one of which would involve taking DD over to Belfast to work there for a couple of weeks. I just can't imagine it but I suppose she'll be older and older every month...

Trying hard to get more illustration work so that I can work from home more.

Kbaby I use the forward facing position in the Baby Bjorn and the Wilkinet, and have done for ages I'm afraid. It's so good to see the little feet and hands wriggling with excitement when something interesting is within sight.

how do you know she doesnt need a feed and just a re-swaddle kbaby? dd woke at 10.30 last night, 3.30, 6,45 and put her back til 8. fed her each of these times and she did seem to want it. but maybe one of them is just to trick me!

Well done your dh kbaby. An allowance is actually better than a car nowdays - lots less tax to pay on cash than on a car.

You shouldn't use the sling forward until they've got decent head control and are nearly ready to sit up. From memory with dd that was about 4 1/2 months, but obv. all differ.

My ds seems to have realised that he is allowed to be demanding now. No longer can I just dump him near and expcthim to eb happy just to watch dd and me play - he yells angrily until we pay him attention - but he does then smile beautifully

I got a letter from work asking if I want to take part in teh performance evaluation proces. Not sure what to say - I don't , but maybe if I don't they'll think I'm not coming back (which I'm not) and then my bonus in November won't be as good. I actually would like to go back - I'm realising that I can't be a full time mother - I need to work to feel useful, but I couldn't cope with my old job in the city full time, and if I did part time I'd have to say goodbye to any career progression there, so I think I'll just try to get something fairly unstrenuous near home, just to get me out of the house and cover the childcare.

aha - glad you are talking about forward facing in the babybjorn. you know I have the older babybjorn, without the red/blue clips?....well just been to mothercare to get another one that faces forward. (dd keeps headbutting me now and trying to do a houdini in the chest facing position). realised that the new BB faces forward so am assuming that mine does too....just need to check and see. does seem to be same shape but when you fold over the top, the poppers are the wrong way around...hmmph, shall keep trying.

no, I couldnt face leaving dd with anyone either, but maybe that's just the thing to do. can with my mum, fine, but she lives 200 miles away. and mil scares me, she knows so little about dd, and babies full stop. (despite telling me how i ought to be bottle feeding so i can leave her with anyone...... she had dh when she was 17 and just passed him around the family the whole time so she could live her teen years baby free.....enough ranting.