The Zoo!

[WinomoreTheFruitbat]

Is it feeding time yet?

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

hey fruity

we have decided to put off the clomid until at least january and have a relax over the chrimbo period hopefully the relaxing will mean i wont need the clomid but with 27 million cycles behind me i am not holding my breath oooh im looking forward to having a nosey at your wedding pics AF still here so im guessing DH wont be getting any action happy for another day or two
hi to everyone else

Hi all,
Count me in for a meet-up definitely! Like Fruity I'm happy to drive a bit further afield if London is not convenient.
Hyena I'm also [shocked] that you're thinking about sex already! But then again I can count the times we've done it since E was born on the fingers of two hands As Rudolph says no sleep is a great contraceptive. We've been using condoms even though neither of us really likes them because I'm not convinced by the Mirena coil and I don't want to go back on the Pill. I've tried to persuade DH to have the snip but for some reason he's stalling!
Panda Sorry AF arrived. Here's to her final visit for a while!
Fruity Well done C, what a big boy he is! And J too with all his teeth! E has still only got 7, we've not had any new ones for a couple of months now. Can't wait to see your wedding pics, they sound fab.
Sleeping... Still no improvement. The night before last we spent 2.5 hours trying to settle her and by 9.30pm we gave up as we were starving hungry so brought her back down. Last night we just didn't try to put her to bed and just waited for her to get tired, which she did at about 8.15pm. After a quick bath she was in bed by 8.45 and asleep by 9.15pm so that was progress! And she stayed asleep until around 3am, which is also an improvement.
I'm really loathe to go down the CC route at the moment as I think it will be too much of a shock for her going from co-sleeping to being put in a cot on her own. She has a fairly strict routine most days. Until last week she was having a short morning nap (30 minutes) as she was waking between 6.30 and 7am. This week she's been waking later so I've kept her awake until lunchtime. She's normally asleep by 1.30pm. Yesterday she slept for 2.5 hours but usually it's about 1.5 hours. Perhaps I should try to put her down half an hour earlier. I'm loathe to wake her when she is asleep, especially at the moment given that I don't think she's sleeping enough. She usually has her dinner at 5pm and is in bed by 6.30pm at the latest and asleep by 7.15pm but not recently! I think she's just a poor sleeper unfortunately and this phase is just something we need to get through as best we can.
Rudolph I really hope N's sleeping improves because I know how frustrating it is when they don't sleep. I guess like me you've tried everything!
Hi to everyone else

Sorry I've been crap at keeping up. But still thinking about you and following you on fb x

Impala I think if they are 'bad' sleepers then it is always their sleep that is effected by developmental/pain stuff. That is my theory and I'm sticking to it! It won't be forever!

Fruit Bless C with his Christmas cards. Love your latest FB photos and can't believe how grown up he is. Is J eating much now? We are still loving the BLW, although sometimes I worry he's not eating enough but then soon get over it when I see the state of his nappy! He has 2 bottom teeth and one coming at the top front (hence why we've had some bad nights this week I think!) lol at J's gap - how cute.

Where's this blardy link then - I want photos.

Hyena Great that you're up for a meet up - Where would you go? How are things settling down with J. Is he still eating for England or should that be Wales?

Panda Hope AF has been and gone by now. I still keep the faith that you will get there in the end. Relax (or Chillax as my nieces would say) over the festive season and who knows...

Penguin Hope you and E are settling in at home, come and 'see' us soon and let us know how you're doing.

We are still trying to decorate, sort Christmas, deal with N and DP has been applying for a new job this week so that has kind of taken over. Hope he gets it though- he needs a change and it's more money.

Have babysitter for N tomorrow and going Christmas shopping and for a massage aaaaahhhhhh!

hey ladies

hope all is well you lot are so busy recently wonder why that is those babies are time consuming arent they
well DH has been told he has to work in london for the forseeable future if he wants to keep his job!! he is not getting paid any more than usual and has to pay his own travel expenses which means we will be £80 out of pocket a week and i will have to struggle through the week on my own right on top of xmas aswell and his arsehole boss has said he is to work up until 5pm on xmas eve and then travel the 5 hours home i am gutted as if we need something else right now when we are seriously skint and need all the money we can muster!! he is already taking a pay cut to work where he is of £500 a month so this will not help at all!! i feel as if the world is against us at the minute...

hope everyone else is ok
xx ei xx

Panda That really is shitty, especially at this time of year. Will he look for another job? At least you've got yours permanently now. I hope things turn around for you both soon xx

Hey guys, just a quicky to say our wedding pics are finally on the website!

www.louisetugwell.co.uk/index.html go to "my pictures" then type in harris
Off to bed now - just got back from Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park and shattered! xx

Fruit Had a quick look at your piccies before and they're gorgeous. Will have another look when I find five mins. How are things? Are the boys excited for Christmas?
Panda I am so sorry sweetie. It has to get better for you soon - you've had such a shit time of it recently. Am really hoping for a positive 2010 for you. Lots of love xxx
Rudolph Things are settling well with J but he's a rubbish sleeper in the day unless we're out. On Sunday he literally slept for 3 hours from 9am until 10pm but he made up for it by sleeping four hours straight. I felt amazing when I woke up. He's not been weighed since his mammoth weight gain but the HV is coming on Weds and he def doesn't look any smaller. I'll try and make the meet up wherever it is but London would be tricky for me with a 5.5 hour round trip and that's without travelling from Paddington. Not sure I'll manage it with a two month old but will see how things progress and where people are keen to meet. Hope all is well with you.
Impala DP isn't keen on getting the snip either but doesn't want anymore children...I think I'll just keep nagging him until he gets fed up!

At risk of sounding like a total nympho I'm not thinking about sex but more about what I'm going to say to the GP at my six week check on Friday. Still haven't decided but I think my pref method is going to be not to do it at all .

Right, time for a catch up.

Hyena These are the professional pictures, the ones before were taken by the guests.
Your little J is so delicious, I want to eat him! Keep the photos coming!
Re the 6 week check, when my GP mentioned contraception I just looked at her like she was a complete imbecile - (it didn't help that she had just refused me Domperidone for increasing my milk supply) she was not in my good books that day, and actually she never will be!
oh yes, I remember the conversation -
Me - "I'd like some Domperidone please as I'm so desperate to BF my baby and I have this condition" (showing her all my research)
GP - "I cannot prescribe it to you. As you are not BFing have you thought about contraception?"
Me - thinking -

Sorry, I digress, but why are GP's so damned thick sometimes?

ffs Panda I am so pissed off for you I can't believe they can do that to DH I'm so sorry you are having to deal with so much shite xxx

rudolph J's just had his two top middle teeth come through today Eating - not bad, I'm not too bothered about whether or not he's getting enough. He still has a lot of milk during the day, 5 bottle with 7 ounces each.
Talking of which, I had a major wobble yesterday about the whole BFing thing again. It didn't help that DL was being an arse - yes, I know you're all surprised - Fruity's DL being an arse? Yes, he thinks my job as a childminder is no different to being a mum and I should be responsible for all things house related, even at weekends and in the evenings . Anyway, that then led to me feeling all emotional whilst feeding J. I was trying to imagine him Bfing stupid thing to do but I let my imagination run away with me.

J's just having his final feed (he holds his own bottle now so I can type one handed ) and I'm going to put him to bed. almost one down and one to go!

Panda Well done on the job front, but not so good on DH's can't believe they want him to travel so far without paying him, very unfair, really hope it doesn't spoil your Christmas and a festive BFP x
Impala Is E sleeping any better now? Sounds like she's giving you the run around
Rudloph Did I miss the photo's on FB I've had a look but can't see any xmas outfits?
Hyena Have you decided which contraception to use yet That's a discussion I bet you never thought you'd have??
Fruity Congrats to C for writing his name, hurray! Love the wedding photo's, C looked very dapper in his suit. I can join you on the wobble with the BFing issues, although mine are slightly different I'm really struggling with Ewan, we can get positioned and latched on when MW etc are here but when we are on our own it's a no go. It's so frustrating as I know we can do it. I really want to BF as there is a link with cow protein and diabetes, as E has a higher chance already of developing diabetes as DH, FIL and Uncle have it, so I feel really pressured to keep on but it is so getting me down, MW discussed today that I will need to make a decision by the end of the week as to whether to continue or not as it's not good for my sanity, but it just breaks my heart that we can't do it Hyena has been a fab support bless her, she checks on me every day I know I dished out the advice that we have all given about how it doesn't matter if you BF or not so long as the baby is happy etch etc but I have those feelings of inadequacy that I'm sure every other mother has had when it hasn't worked out and I feel such a failure
This has taken me 3 hours to post, due to MW visit and feed, where does the time go??
On a happier note E is a very happy baby, he sleeps a lot, only cries when hungry or naked, loves the bath and lots of cuddles so it's not all doom and gloom

Penguin Huge hugs to you my lovely. I'm always here is you need to chat or need to ask anything - I might not have the answer but I'll always try. Good luck tomorrow. Really hope you get the support you deserve.
Fruity They're bloody useless aren't they! The only thing they care about is ticking the box. I took J to see the GP when he was poorly with a virus in week one and he was bloody useless - showed off even more than he usually does because he had students there. I always go and see my next door neighbour who is a GP before seeing my own so I can make sure he gives me the right diagnosis and treatment .

Well the HV came today and after making me feel like poop and worrying me sick in the first week about J's weight he's now piling it on. 10lb 15oz today - he's gaining roughly 12/13oz a week. It's like a constant growth spurt.

Hope you're all well and just busy with Christmas preps. We've decided to go out for Christmas dinner. Am thrilled because I was dreading cooking/feeding/entertaining the MIL/attending to the kids - just feel it's too much this year. Esp as L will want lots of attention and someone to play with. It's £50 a head which we can't really afford but it's Christmas afterall.

Lots of love to all of you xxxxx

Hiya everyone, am getting very envious about the FB messages about meetups, would so love to be over to meet up with you all
Can you believe my baby boy was 5mths old last Friday
And I've been reading about the cold snap as well, we've had around 32deg each day this week so definitely no snow here
Had to laugh Penguin when you said E doesn't like being naked, that is ds's favourite time. I lie him on the change table and he gets such a big smile as he knows that his nappy is about to come off! With the heat, he gets nudey time most afternoons, on a playmate on the lounge room floor, underneath the floor, and he loves it
dh's 40th party went well last week, photos on FB. Hectic for me until everyone had eaten, but still fun. Rain held off so we were lucky about that, cooked a lamb on the spit so we were a bit stuffed if it rained, no way to feed everyone.
Anyway, hope everyone has a lovely weekend

underneath the floor should read 'underneath the ceiling fan'.....

Mama Am guessing you mean playmat rather than playmate . Saw the piccies on FB. Looks like your DH had a fab birthday. Are your girls very excited about Christmas?

Have almost finished my Christmas shopping. Just popped home for a sarnie after 6 week check (waste of time!) and now I'm off out again.

Sorry to neglect you all so badly, but this time I do have an excuse. Take an 8 mth baby, add a major decorating project (floor, wallpaper, new fireplace etc etc) and sprinkle on Christmas in a week and you get a rudolph who hasn't even LOOKED at MN let alone posted!

I come back and we have !

It means I haven't been around to support Penguin so I'm sorry lovely. I hope things are going better and please try not to be too hard on yourself. I'm glad that you are still getting pleasure from E and it's not clouding everything, but it must be so frustrating.

Fruitbat You must be kind too! It's not your fault and your latest pics show 2 beautiful, fun loving, clever boys - you did that!

Mama Sounds like you've had a busy but fun couple of weeks and no I can't believe he is 5 months!! Love your FB status about buying pressies for the girls without them noticing - v/clever. N loves to be naked too - and he doesn't live in Australia!

Hyena Nice one finishing your shopping, I'm nearly done. It's amazing how much you can get done when you have too! Good idea to go out for dinner on the big day. We are at home , just the 3 of us. We then have 8 of us here on boxing day and my Mum and her DP on the Sunday. I really felt I wanted to have people here this year - Great idea

Driving to Ironbridge today to do the rounds of DP's family. Were supposed to be going this evening but due to weather we are going in the day. A trip to IKEA on the way back and the Strictly final is all that's keeping me

xx

Well I think I have come to a tearful decision that I will no longer continue trying to BF E. Although I went to see the BF counsellor at the hospital who was fab and I managed a whole feed without any tears the first time after seeing her, then we went back to the usual not latching, feeding on the end, crying baby constantly fighting me when I try and get him in position. Everytime it comes to feeds I get so stressed out worrying that I won't be able to latch him on, that he will get upset etc etc it's not doing either of us any good, the last few days I've been doing more and more formula and I've been so much more chilled out so I am being brave and after a lot of soul searching making the decision I feel is right for both of us, so I am but also as it has caused me so much heartache and I feel as if a weight has been lifted off me.
Right I am going to wish you all a very Merry Christmas just in case I don't get back on before Friday, I hope you all get just what you want from Santa, Panda I am hoping for a BFP for you in your stocking Have a wonderful time with your children, I know we will enjoy our first christmas as a family, something I never ever thought we would do!
Also would like to say thank you to everyone for all your support, advice and info over the last year, I really hope that we get to a meet up next year and stick together after going through so much.
Thanks girls, love you all x

hi ladies
penguin sorry you have had such a hard time of BFing. i have been such a crappity friend of late and have barely kept in touch im glad you are feeling ok about your decision to FF and hopefully things will settle down now and you can start to relax into being E's mummy
oooo it is only 3 sleeps until father christmas comes i am hoping for an early NY BFP and i am 100% sure me and DH were...ahem...active...at the right time well see though
hi to everyone else

What is it with BFing? It's supposed to be easy, but I don't know many people at all who find it easy! It's bloody hard work and so incredibly stressful.
Penguin I'm so sorry you're also finding it so difficult. Why do we feel so bad when it doesn't work out? I know, for me, it's pure jealousy. Nothing to do with guilt - although it was in the beginning. You soooo need to do whatever releases the stress. E has got all the goodness he needs from you. BTW, we need to see pictures!!!
I think we need to start a formula campaign Bet that wouldn't go down well, but why shouldn't it?
You will now enjoy every feed instead of getting stressed about it. Enjoy it, and Merry Christmas!!! xxxxx

Panda I have sent FC a special telepathic message to put a BIG FAT POSITIVE in your stocking and if he doesn't, I will send the heavies round xxxxx

I soo hope we can all meet u in Jan/Feb. Has anyone got any dates they can't do? Then we can work around that

I meant Meet up!

Penguin Sorry to hear the bf isn't working out but please don't beat yourself up over it. As Fruity says, E has already had a lot of goodness from you and you've done really well to get this far. If it's stressing you then best to switch to ff, a happy mum = a happy baby. However, you could also try mixed feeding if you don't want to give up bf all together? By giving formula you're taking pressure off yourself as you know that E isn't starving and you could try topping him up with breastmilk. Perhaps if he's had a bit of formula first and is not quite so hungry then he'll be fighting you less? Just a thought if you don't want to stop all together. I know it's not what mw/hvs recommend, but it can work. A friend of mine only bf her DD in the evenings as she experienced problems but didn't want to stop all together. this site has some very useful information on latch and positioning for starters and loads of other useful bf information. As Fruity also said, unfortunately it's not as easy as it should be and sometimes for whatever reason it just doesn't work unfortunately. Good luck with whatever you decide to do and above all enjoy E's first Christmas. Can't wait to see some more pics by the way
Panda Here's hoping Santa brings you a BFP
Meet-up I can't do 7 February but all other weekends in January/February are free at the moment.
A very happy Christmas to you all and your LOs

hey guys just thought i would pop on to say a massive MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all just in case i dont get a chance to say it before the big day
loads of love to you all and i hope you all have a great day with the family
xx ei xx

I'm just popping in to do the same. It's been very busy here but I'll hopefully have an hour to myself at some point .
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU. xxxxxxxxxxx

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Merry Christmas to you all Hope you're having a fab day xx

OMG Just saw that L was in A&E on Christmas day - poor you Hyena, how is she now ?

Hope you all had a lovely day and are now relaxing and eating lots of yummy leftovers :-)