The Zoo!

[WinomoreTheFruitbat]

Is it feeding time yet?

pull up a rock or patch of grass and get comfy in our new enclosure!

OOh and planning E's birthday parties for Fri & Sat - one for babies then one for family. Any tips for cakes, baby treats and cake decoration ? Am a complete novice but determined to do it all myself - mental... yes maybe, but there is a supermarket nearby if it all goes t!ts up !

I can't believe my wee man is 1 on Thu - where did the year go exactly ???

Wow Hippo, 1 already We had dd1's 1st bday at a restaurant for Sunday lunch, and dd's was at my dad's, as it was Xmas day anyway so everyone was together there. Not sure that the babies will eat much but cup cakes always go down a treat at any party & I never make the main cake if it is to be eaten by anyone outside of extended family, too much pressure on my limited baking skills I've decided Are you just doing nibbly food at both?

Hippo I have been racking my brains for suitable food and then realised I have a whole book of finger food that is good for babies - duh!

My faves are cheese straws, eggy bread and things wrapped in filo pastry - messy but fun.

How is the control of the spoon going? I can't believe that E is one either. Seems like 5 mins ago that you were still pg let alone he was born.

We are in decorating heaven/hell at the moment. Hell because ALL the living room furniture is in the dining room and we are basically living in here. Heaven because the new fireplace looks gorgeous and the floor has been sanded and varnished and also looks great.

BTW - Forgot to say that N's baptism was a great success and he looked like a little angel and behaved like one too.

Just a quick one from me - all is well with Penguin and Little E. They don't have test results yet but he's improving massively and could be home v soon. She's moved to SCBU now so they can spend all their time together.

In other news - after not regaining his birth weight, J was weighed today and has put on 13.5 oz in a week! I'm thrilled. He's got a virus though but hopefully it'll clear quickly.

Promise to catch up soon xxx

Brilliant news about Penguin - all sounds positive so hopefully they will be home soon.

great news penguin bet you cant wait to get home now
hyena sorry J is not too well poor little love xx
hi to everyone else
xx ei xx

It's quiet in here.

I came down with a bug last night - yuk! Am feeling loads better today but keeping everything crossed that J&L don't get it. Bloody typical .

J seems better today. Still full of snuffles and coughing but is interested in feeding again. We're managing three hours between feeds at night and the unsettled evenings are settling down. He's a delight (for now!).

Rudolph Love your name. I need to think of a Christmas one but that could take a LONG time. Glad all went well at the baptism. Any pics?

Hippo Hope all goes well this weekend. Have you organised the food? Enjoy E's special day. Big kiss to the little man x

Mamafox Thanks for the advice. My friend's mum is a breastfeeding consultant so I'll see her if we have anymore probs. Send the sunshine this way - it's bloody freezing!

Panda How are you doing love?

Penguin is at home with E. They came home last night so I'm sure she'll be here as soon as she finds some time.

Lots of love to all. Hope you're all well and just busy with Christmas preps - I've done virtually nothing...oops!

I was also thinking how quiet it has been lately and am going to make an effort to post every day, even if I end up wittering to myself. It would be such a shame if we lost touch after all this time. It's just hard when we all have so much going on so my posts may be short, but they will be there.

Such fantastic news Penguin, cannot wait to hear how you're all doing. Now the fun can really begin. I have still not seen photos, in fact I will be off to FB next to stalk your DH.

Poor you Hyena, fingers crossed that all the BF will stop J getting it and that L just moves to quick to catch it! I love your latest photos, he really is gorgeous. Glad he's going a bit longer now. We are also doing better at night, still not going through but back sleep after a feed (albeit next to Mummy after about 2am - lovely but not all at the same time) When I read your earlier post I had done NOTHING about xmas but I have this afternoon bought a pair of gloves for my Mum and DP's Mum, so I've officially started - yey

Impala Hope all better in your house now. Any progress with your nights?

Mamafox So glad the party went well, as I said I wanted to come, it sounded great. Did you mention something about a new job or am I losing the plot?

Panda Any news from you on the TTC front? Or shouldn't I ask?

Hippo Hope your parties go well and there will be lots of photos for us to coo over. I have just made the cheese straws and they look and smell a bit too good to give to N for him to just throw on the floor.

Fruit Hope you are doing OK? Miss your posts and worry when you're not around. Haven't seen Meeeow around for a while either.

If you're still lurking then lots of love to Nemo Wolverine Turkleton and all your little cubs. xx

N going to my Dad's tomorrow so that we can get on with decorating. I have to send him with instructions so best get on and make some up .
We then have a Christmas party with our baby group on Sunday with some seriously yummy food - I am taking a lovely selection of cheeses that none of the Mummies could eat last Christmas.

hi ladies

rudolph (love the name) alls well on the TTC front...except for AF not arriving (i have been in a foul mood today so i am guessing she isnt far off) i cant believe E is nearly 1!! i am 'ed at how fast all th babies are growing up my DD is 4 after xmas i need to get a baby in my belly pronto so i dont feel so old
hyena yeah things are ok nowt happened here worth noting glad J is feeling better and i hope your illness clears up soon

hi to everyone else
xx ei xx

Apologies in advance for no personal posts, but this is the quickest post I've ever done Just to say thanks for all the messages and comments girls, means a lot. Ewan and I are very glad to be home, we are having some big problems with feeding which is causing me some distress but I'm sure we'll work it out.
Hope to be back very soon to update properly and put some pics on for those that haven't seen him yet.

Oh and Hyena thanks for keeping everyone informed for me x x

yay penguin great news that you are home with little E i hope that the feeding issues resolve themselves soon and things settle down for you
xx ei xx

Evening everyone!
Penguin Hooray for being at home with your little bubba - daunting isn't it! I can barely remember those first few days at home with just C. I do remember it being very scary! much more relaxing second time around
I'm sory to hear about the feeding worries. I don't think people realise how heart breaking it is until your actually there trying to do it yourself Don't worry, you'll both get there. It's really hard to get bfing established in the early days even if you've got gallons of the stuff! xxx

Rudolph - great name! I can't think of a xmas name for yours truly so not sure I'll bother. Thanks for your concerns. I'm ok. I'm just so bored of my own whinging that I can't be bothered to bore you all with it too. It's getting a little easier. Just everything getting to me still.
But, I had a smile on my face last night and today (you might have seem my FB pictures!) My small (haha) obsession with Tim Burgess (The Charlatans) just got ten times bigger when I saw him last night DJing. I have never been so close to him, he's so damned sexy, I want to eat him alive! I had my picture taken with him - yes I am officially a saddo but it was worth it

So, when I'm feeling down, I just think of Tim now, hahaha

Hyena how are you feeling now? I was really ill two weeks ago and I'm never ill. I had the flu and it really wiped me out - I could barely move, my body was aching all over and I had a hideously dry cough. Now J's got a cough and a cold, which he's actually had on and off for about 4-5 weeks. The GP gave him and inhaler thing to ease his cough. It's getting on my nerves now, I hate ill people/kids - I've no patience. Just bloody get on with it and stop whinging! Even my own 8 month old baby It's just that he's always covered in snot and wipes it all over everything before I get the chance to wipe his nose, it's quite disgusting.

Hippo Happy belated birthday to master E!!!! How has party number one gone?

Hiya Penguin so glad you are home. Try to relax about the feeding. I think it's quite likely bearing in mind the rough time that you've both had. Keep at it, I'm sure he'll get the hang of it. Can you believe you are at home with your son! It's truly marvellous!

Ei I can't believe that your DD will be 4 either, I always think of her as a littly, baby type. Here's hoping that AF is not on it's way and your just being a mardy cow!

I am tucked up watching Strictly and Chris and Ola's crowd pleasing pivots (Hippo may be the only one who gets that), waiting for my pizza and for DP to put N to bed with newly painted lounge walls (lovely colour BTW)

N also always covered in snot and wiping it over me/the floor/sofa/himself before I get to it!

How about Fruitpuddinglings?

Evening all,

I popped into town at 430pm and managed a fair bit of Christmas shopping before the shops closed at 6...mainly gift vouchers but lack the energy to buy useless gifts this year.
L has got a Nintendo DS, a mini micro scooter, some barbies, art and craft bits, books and now I need to finish her stocking. J has zilch but I'll buy him a few outfits.

I'm sat waiting for XFactor as usual - Saturday nights are going to be meaningless in a few weeks.

Rudolph Have you ordered a pizza or made one? I quite fancy a Dominoes but that's usually a Sunday night treat.

Fruit Maybe you've got the Swine Flu out of the way? I never get ill either - I managed a whole 9 months feeling fantastic. I guess my immune system is just low at the moment and DP and L keep bringing germs home from school. Maybe I'll move out . Are you feeling any brighter?

Penguin Thinking of you chick. Will give you a text now. These early weeks are hard but it won't last forever. xxxxxx

Panda Am waiting for news from you. Fingers crossed hun.

I've been so thirsty today - hope I'm not getting J's virus next...

hi ladies im in work today!! booooo!!

on the bright side though, i was offered the full time position that was going so i start my new job in january im made up!!!

no news here a little bit of spotting overnight but nowt to complain about

we will see...oh and BTW i was due AF on CD 30/31...i am now CD35 so enough TTC talk

penguin hope your first night at home went well

xx ei xx

Hi ladies
First of all welcome home to Penguin and baby E, that is lovely news Hope you get the feeding problems sorted very soon. As Fruity says, it is hard at the beginning but hang in there. Hopefully you have a good mw or you can always call the NCT bf helpline (no need to be a member): 0300 330 0771. I really hope things get easier for you from now on after the time you've had. xx
Panda Congratulations on getting the job That's fantastic news. A BFP would be the icing on the cake - fingers crossed for you!
Hyena Hope you've made a full recovery and that J and L haven't caught your bug. Well done on getting started with the Xmas shopping, it's amazing how much you can get done in a very short space of time isn't it?? I don't have the excuse of a new baby this year but I'm still finding it a struggle. Thank goodness for the internet as I really can't face going into town and struggling with the buggy in the crowds!
Fruity Good to see you back Hope J feels better soon. E has had a cold on and off for over a month now too and a cough as well so I think there is something going around. A couple of the babies on my PN thread have been diagnosed with chest infections with similar symptoms so I'm wondering whether I should take E to the dr She's got her 12 month boosters on Tuesday and I've already postponed them once.
Rudolph Glad you're pleased with the decorating, it sounds as though everything is coming together. I'm also pleased that N's sleeping is gradually improving.
We had a week of hell here with E not sleeping, which is why I've been AWOL as she refused to sleep in the evenings. She seemed tired and I'd bf her to sleep as usual then she'd either drop off for a few minutes and then ping awake and start charging around the bed or just not drop off at all and get bored with bf then charge around. Then there was no way of getting her back to sleep and as I was on my own because DH was on the late shift last week I brought her downstairs just so I could have some dinner as I'd be trying to get her off for 1.5-2hours at a time. Last night I ended up holding her in my arms rather than lying down with her so that I could stop her from getting too agitated, which worked up to a point as after 1.5 hours she did eventually drop off. It is hard work though! I'm not sure what's up with her, she's sleeping well during the day but by evening she's just over-excited. She's on the verge of walking, which could explain it. It's almost as though she thinks sleep is a waste of time atm On the plus side I did get most of my Xmas cards written whilst she was busy charging around the lounge in the evenings as I just let her get on with it in the end. At least this week DH will be around in the evenings so can take over the settling if it goes on for too long as I don't want to keep bringing her back down because I don't want her to think she can do this all the time and also she needs her sleep, irrespective of what she might think! I did try putting her in her cot last week thinking that she might play quietly with her soft toys in there (as she does during the day when I need to confine her) and at least be physically restrained, but she yelled the place down and got so wound up it was totally counter-productive. Why did I get one who doesn't sleep???
Hippo A happy belated birthday to E and hope the parties went well
Hello to everyone else, like Rudolph I am going to make an effort to post more regularly (my last one was on 25 November ) as I also don't want to lose touch with you all. Was there talk of a meet-up in January at some point? We need to get a date in our diaries as it will give us something to look forward to once Christmas and New Year are out of the way

impala sorry E hasnt been sleeping very well i feel your pain and i remember that age well S was EXACTLY the same we ended up starting a round of controlled crying/gradual withdrawal so she would fall asleep. quiet room, background noise such as radio/tv on low, dark room possibly with nightlight. stay calm, dont give in, show her who is mummy it worked within a few days for DD and she was a nightmare sleeper anyway
xx ei xx

Impala I had exactly the same with L on a few occasions and it's tough going. Like Panda, we too did the controlled crying. It's torture but within a few days you're back into a routine again. I'm so looking forward to those joys again .
Panda Yey for job . Well done you. Let's hope the spotting doesn't progress into anything.

Can I ask you ladies about something I haven't thought about in a lonnngggg time - contraception! My six week check will soon be here and I have no idea what I'm going to do. Having number 3 isn't really an option for us (especially so close to J ). I don't want to take the pill because I know I'll forget. I'm thinking my options are either the coil or the implant - neither of which I know anything about.

Cor blimey hyena you're quick off the mark, I've found no sleep to be the most reliable form of contraception. Seriously I've never fancied the coil and know 2 people recently who've got up the duff using it (typical we try for months/years with nothing and they reproduce at the drop of a hat!)

Impala I feel your pain. Poor you and without DH for support. It's so hard to get the balance between keeping your sanity and not getting them into bad habits. I'm sure when you feel more up to it you will make some headway but sometimes you have to just get through it anyway you can. Hence why I sometimes drive along a duel carriageway at 5am, walk with the buggy at 9pm and why Noah has really seen more X-factor/SCD than he should've! E's walking could have something to do with it though, they do become unsettled before a big developmental leap apparently.

Panda GREAT news on the job front, now you'll definitely get pg if you have a permanent job.

I am off to bed as giving DP a night off tonight. Had a lovely day at the baby group party. Great food and all the babies were so well behaved and played so nicely. Will put some photos on FB so you can see the baby xmas outfits.

Rudolph I'm sure the lack of sleep will be a reliable form here too...but, Christmas is coming and maybe a yearly treat will be on the cards (although prob not!!) . Hope you managed some sleep last night.

Hyena lol - Our Dp's will probably all miss the days of TTC! As you say it is Christmas. You could always go teenage and use condoms

Panda I thought of you today as heard that a zoo in Singapore have managed to get a dragon to breed! FGS- it's just not fair, a mythical creature is pg and you're not. I hope that gives you hope and doesn't depress you.

I really can't be arsed to do DS's bedtime but I must....then more painting...sigh

hey ladies

rudolph damn a BLOODY DRAGON beat me it is ok i will live i am ok with animal kingdom procreation AF arrived yesterday so it is cycle 27 and counting fingers crossed this will be my last

hyena not going straight for number 3 then?? i had the coil and while it is good contraception it buggered my cycles up and i firmly believe it is to blame for my troubles. my friend had an implant and said it was very good

hyena for even thinking about sex so soon. I'm only just getting back on the band wagon and, believe me, I need some persuading! You need a bit of PCOS, it's the best contraceptive I know! - all that extra bodily fur is enough to keep the boys away (keeps me warm in the winter though)

Panda and Rudolph A bloody dragon? I've actually been to Singapore Zoo - amazing place. Maybe you're right about the coil, I don't believe in contraception anymore. Unless it's condoms I think you should leave well alone - I'm just letting nature decide, if I fall pregnant then it'll be another little miracle, bad timing but a miracle all the same
Hopefully this will be the last of AF for you for a while. What's happening with the Clomid?

Rudolph - how's little N getting on? has he got any teeth yet? J's got two front bottom ones and, weirdly, none on the top front but his fangs are through. Maybe he's just got a mahoosive gap in between his front teeth

C's finally learnt how to write his name. We did 30 Christmas cards last night for his class mates - it was great practice! He was so proud of himself - his little face lit up when he showed me - awwwwww. Better late than never

We went up to Birmingham to choose our wedding photos on Sunday. It took four long hours but was worth it. They will all be on the photographers website by tonight hopefully. I'll link it for you when they are up so you can all have a peek I'm really pleased with them, she did a fab job!

Impala poor you on the sleep front. It's not nice. My poor fiends had terrible trouble (and still do) with their 21 month old. Does E have a got daily routine that you stick to? Does she have an afternoon nap? Perhaps cut that short or make it earlier? Do you let her sleep in in the mornings?

I meant to add. We need to think of a date we can all make for a meet-up.
Are we all free in January? Or is it too soon after Christmas money wise?
Let's get a date in the diary now - even if it's for February/March - and stick to it this time!
I have no plans at all for any weekend in Jan and I'm happy to drive a bit further away if London is difficult for some to get to