June 10 babies have arrived. Now we are all sleep deprived!

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Welcome to 'the other side' ladies. Long may we all continue to post!

ARRIVALS
27/04 (due 23/06) - SunshineDay - Faye - 3lbs 2oz
16/05 (due 02/06) - Meggymegmegs - James (Jimmy) David, 7lb 1oz
19/05 (due 01/06) - whenwillisleepagain - Alice Emily, 8lb 7oz
21/05 (due 21/06) - Gizmo - Hester Rose - 6lbs
23/05 (due 9/06) - greensnail, Alice Elizabeth, 7lb 2oz
24/05 (due 8/06) - Saucepanman, Gabriel, 8lb 4oz
24/05 (due 31/05) - minimoonumber2, Sebastian Robin
26/05 (due 24/06) - GibberingGinger James Alexander, 5lb 13oz, & Douglas John, 5lb 15oz
28/05 (due 30/05) - GoodName, Fergus, 8lb
28/05 (due 31/05) - mampam, Tilly May, 9lb 11oz
28/05 (due 4/06) - jo807bump - Hannah May, 5lb 7.5oz
04/06 (due 07/06) - perkster - Sidney James Perkins Berner, 7lb 11oz
05/06 (due 31/05) - dinosaurinmybelly - Zoe Leila - 6lb 9oz
07/06 (due 02/06 ) - AlwaysHopeful - George, 7lb 13oz
07/06 (due 07/06) - MrsC09 - Rufus Jack
08/06 (due 01/06) - PogueMahone - Magnus Gabriel, 8lb 14.5oz
08/06 (due 11/06) - woofie - Laurence Elliot (Laurie) - 7lb 11oz
08/06 (due 21/06) - sunworshipper - Romola Ann Bettina, 5lb 15oz
09/06 (due 08/06) - LittleRobbo - Summer Dawn
09/06 (due 09/06) - Boobz - Constance Ella Reed,
11/06 (due 02/06) - Justbeme - 'Nobody' (boy) - 8lb 9oz
12/06 (due 02/06) - roundabout1 - Lauren - 8lb 14oz
13/06 (due 18/06) - Virgo1979 - nameless boy! 7lb 9oz
14/06 (due 30/06) - monthlymayhem - Hayden, 7lb
14/06 (due 08/06) - MrsAlwaysRight - Alice Rose, 9lb 7oz
14/06 (due 15/06) - Millymollymoo - boy
15/06 (due 31/05) - RnB - Artemis, 7lb 9oz
15/06 (due 29/06) - playftseforme - Rory 6lb 4oz, and Fergus 6lb 8oz
16/06 (due 17/06) - Chestnut100 - Daisy Belle 6lb 14oz
17/06 (due 01/06) - Madamfreckle - Emma 6lb 6oz
17/06 (due 30/06) - MonkeyMargot - Atticus Fox 7lb 8oz and Rafferty Bear 7lb 14oz
17/06 )due 04/06) - Suzy1975 - Samuel 7lb 14oz
18/06 (due 23/06) - earlyonemorning - Edgar William 7lb 8oz
18/06 (due 13/06) - sobloodystupid - Stella 8lb 8oz
19/06 (due 22/06) - Gaelicsheep - Robin 6lb 14oz
22/06 (due 14/06) - Fillybuster - Mia Rae 9lb 3oz
24/06 (due 16/06) - Nizzynoodles - Samuel James 10lb 10.5oz
24/06 (due 17/06) - summerhols - Lilly
25/06 (due 17/06) - Barbeasty - Ruth Damaris Rose, 9lb
26/06 (due 16/06) - JoKettle - James Lennox, 8lb 7oz
26/06 (due 29/06) - MrsDmamee - Elyssa, 8lb 5oz
28/06 (due 26/06) - imkeepingmum - girl, 7lb 11oz
28/06 (due 12/06) - Georgee - Anna Rose, 7lb 15.5oz
28/06 (due 12/06) - Elena67 - boy, 9lb 5oz
29/06 (due 17/06) - bluesnowfalcon - Corey, 8lb 11.75oz
29/06 (due 18/06) - theperfectbaguette - Clementine Jemima, 6lb
29/06 (due 26/06) - RubyReins - Luke Douglas, 7lb 14oz
29/06 (due 25/06) - Ilovemyterrier - Jeppe Sebastian Fagerlund, 7lb 6.5oz
01/07 (due 30/06)- LaTrucha - Daniel Timothy, 8lb 11oz
3/7 (due 29/06) - CantSleepWontSleep - Jeremy Francis, 9lb 4oz

goodname - agree with csws on this.
Ooh, corn patties sound good! I must check it out.

CSWS Sam's getting the full set of Mr Men books, some little racing cars, chase and race ramps from elc and sort and soar rocket from fisherprice(or could be vtech, can't remember!). It might be a bit easier for us though as he's the only boy

goodname - Alice eats a lot of bread, but that's mainly because I love bread so I eat a lot of it too. I make all our own bread though so its low in salt and sugar. We're all wheat addicts in this family though. DD1 I kept religiously wheat free until 6 months and didn't struggle at all with finding things for her to eat, but I haven't even bothered to do that with Alice. No allergies in the family though so hopefully I can afford to be a bit more laid back. No problems with wind here, and her nappies are showing that she's managing to eat more and more each day.

Got lots of nice comments from various old ladies in M&S cafe today as Alice and DD1 were both sitting and eating so nicely

greensnail all hail you for honestly admitting that bread is good. It made me break into song.
"You might as well face it you're addicted to bread....might as well face it you're addicted to bread.
you can't eat.....(except bread)
you can't sleep....(cos no bread)
There's no doubt
You're in (the dough) deep
Your throat is tight (wheat allergy)
You can't breathe (bread went down wrong hole)
Another (yeasty) kiss is all you need!"

oh I am a bread addict myself and a chocoholic but I plan on being completely hypocritical and keeping fergus off both as long as poss. Sorry if my comment upset anyone just seems everyone is so obssessed with blw and I dont quite get it. Fergus had proper porridge and apple for breakfast this morn and he loved it. Cant see how porridge would work in blw but its so healthy. I let him get messy and give him his own spoon, let him use his hands etc but he seems to like being fed too. I also give him things like carrot sticks to eat himself which he enjoys but anyway each to their own I guess.

Hows the sleep going everyone?

We seem to have a similar windy issue here...
So far J is having fun playing with the foods we give him, but very little seems to be going in!! So far have tried cucumber, canteloupe melon, purple sprouting broccoli, carrots, green pepper, beansprouts, fingers of toast, cheddar and breadsticks.
This week we shall experiment with avocado, chicken and asparagus.

He's having the most success with the breadsticks and toast, and cucumber. (Dipped a breadstick in a tiny bit of curry sauce the other night - that didn't cause even half the grimacing that other foods have!) Have to admit he really didn't take to the broccoli or carrots last night!!!
I worry sometimes that we're a little early starting (J is 25 weeks today) but reading here that others are already starting is a relief!

Still same sleep issues...anyone else seeing light at the end of the sleep deprivation tunnel?

This is how to do porridge blw stylee!

Goodname thinking about it, George has been windier these past few days, but I hadn't really noticed because his teeth are giving him soooooo much grief anything else is just a niggle. Poor lamb has two teeth now and did seem to be calming down, but all of a sudden he's drooling like a demon again, so there must be some more on the way. I can't see any at the top, but his bottom gums are terribly lumpy, so it looks like they might be coming through in a random order. Credit to you for asking about the BLW. I was trying to avoid bread, but G swiped a piece of toast out of my hand as I tried to get it in my own mouth and he did a good job of gumming his way right through it, so that's my fall back position for finger food for him.

Weaning is very haphazard here. G doesn't seem to like to be fed, but loves to feed himself. So, we have two spoons for feeding the purees at lunchtime and he has finger foods or something from our plate if it's suitable at tea time. Now sure how much is going in, though. Carrots and bananas are a give-away in the nappy, but other things are less obvious... oh well, we will get there! So many similar aged babies we see in RL are having three meals a day already and sleeping through... not fair!

csws sorry... but cold porridge pancakes sound vile!!

Woofie I go back to work in January too. 4 days for me. DCs will be two days with grandparents and 2 days at nursery. Am not looking forward to it at all.

I feel like I've been skating on the ice of post natal depression these last few weeks. I have a few bad days and then seem to right myself for a while and then it goes wrong again. I have talked to the HV and a few other people and they say it's most likely just sleep deprivation since it does get better if G has a run of better sleep. Anyone got any similar experiences? I've had a look on the mental health threads on MN, but fortunately for me my symptoms don't seem to be nearly so bad as the ladies posting there.

AlwaysHopeful I have to say I am with you on the PND verge -I am due back to work fulltime on 13 December and it's all starting to hit home. I had a full onslaught from the neighbours last week about how worried they all are about me, and it actually made me feel worse. I thought I was coping well, until they started! Sleep is a key issue for us too - tried to see my HV, but she wasn't at clinic.
No signs of anything in the nappy yet..althoguh the houmous on breadsticks went down well at lunchtime. Although there was a fair bit smeared all over his face!!!

Maybe that's one of the triggers... the reality of going back to work is a biggie.

Houmous! I'd forgotten how great that is for weaning! I will get some this weekend. DD loved it, although it did bring her face out in a rash when she smeared it everywhere!

Grrr did a long post & then managed to delete it - think the sleep deprivation is affecting my keyboard ability as well as everything else.

Brave girl & Always hopeful - hope you both get a bit of help. Luckily i'm not going back to work but can imagine it is hugely stressful thinking about it especially with it being such a busy time of the year and being sleep deprived.

Weaning underway here - I'm new to blw as dd1 who's 5 was a puree baby but am giving it a go. Love the idea of it & all set to persevere but not sure how it will go really. So far have tried banana, carrot, pepper, pear & apple. Ricecakes, breadstricks, toast, pasta & some roast pork. Not much has been eaten which I expected, but she's enjoyed playing with it. Has gagged & been sick a few times when food has broken into small pieces in her mouth but she doesn't seem phased by this. I tend to have a sandwich or beans on toast for lunch so was wondering myself about diet being too bread based. Suppose I have to get into the habit of doing something proper for lunch instead.
sleep is pretty crap here, Lauren sleeps in bed with us just so I can actually get some sleep. Am getting a bit fed up of having no space in bed though!

Oh oh oh....definate signs of purple sprouting broccoli in nappy!!!

Melon proved much more popular tonight!

always and bravegirl I definitely skated on the ice of PND when my DS was about 5 months old. Looking back I think sleep deprivation and the prospect of going back to work were what did for me... but it's so hard isn't it - I looked on the mental health discussions at that time and like you, thought I had much less of a difficult time with it than others - and this whole sleep deprivation / possible PND intertwinedness is hard to figure out (IMO anyway). The woman GP at my practice was great. Sending you sympathy.

BLW for Alice is also equalling breadsticks and houmous. And lots of farting. She likes food to be put into her mouth but is getting the hang of picking things up and aiming them in that general direction.

I have no idea when I am going back to work. I said 4th Feb, which was a date I plucked out of the air. I certainly would like to stay off longer - till Alice is 11 or 12 months. At 43 she is my last baby so I will never have this experience again. DH and I have been discussing but reached no conclusion. Lots of jobs are going at work, so I am holding off putting anything in writing till I know more.

Alwayshopeful, bravegirl and WhenwillIsleep I know exactly what you mean about the sleep deprivation versus PND. Its so hard to cope with anything nevermind a baby (and other children I guess) when you are so tired. Sometimes you just feel despair at the though of it never getting any better and you cant see an end in sight. Fergus sleeps in our bed as well as I just cannot cope with getting out of bed so many times a night. DH still focused on getting him in his own bed but I just too tired to care.
Oh and my No Bread idea went somewhat out of the window last night when Fergus grabbed my pizza crust out of my mouth and stuffed it in his. He has pretty good reflexes when it comes to food
Glad to know I am not the only one dealing with farting and lack of sleep

I think George may turn into some kind of international athlete... not sure what type of sport requires the speed and accuracy he has for stealing food from mummy's plate, but he has the gift!

Would any of you ladies with little girls be interested in buying a fleece and waterproof for this snowy weather? I have my DD's barely worn Bush Baby Snug Bug cosy fleece in pink, age 6-12 months and Bush Baby Splash suit in navy and pink, also 6-12 months for sale. Both are in very good condition. I'm looking for £25 plus postage. I have kept her themal undies for George, since no-one will see them, but I can't send him out into the world in baby-girl pink!!

Hello all! I'm reading about everyone starting on food and getting worried that I might have to make that leap soon. It will conincide with us going off to Oz for a month and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. Well, obviously the going to Oz is a good thing (bring on the summer!!) I can't remember who said about finding it hard to get out and about once you've started weaning - that's what worries me - but somehow Emma will just have to eat on the go I guess because I'm not putting antipodean adventures on hold while she spends ages trying to eat!

I am another in the sleep-deprived gang. Emma still feeding 3 times a night and mostly still ends up in the spare bed with me. Another worry about going to Oz is that I will once again have to share with DP for the first time in about a year!! Gaaaaah! I like the little bubble that Emma and I have got ourselves into in the spare room but (be positive now) it'll probably be good for her to be sandwiched between us for half the night then jumped on excessively by ridiculously exuberant DS in the morning!

Not worried about the flight at all
I'm drowning in mental lists but haven't yet got round to packing anything (we go in a week)

AlwaysHopeful and BraveGirl and others in the same position - I don't envy your prospect of returning to work and feeling quite down. If it's something you know you need to do I am so sure that once you have got through the first (probably horrible and knackering) few weeks, you'll settle into it and quite enjoy being your own person at work again. And you will love love love x 10000000 the time you have with your baby more than when you are together all the time.

CSWS - I used medised with my son when he was under 1 and there were times when it was invaluable. I will probaby use it with Emma if needed but was wondering what the dose for babies would be (as I've got a new bottle which obv doesn't have baby doses). Is it half to one 5ml spoonful? Is it the same concentration as it always used to be?

On the subject of going back to work - is anyone thinking about not going back? I'm lucky enough to be able to consider it as an option financially if we are a bit more careful but I'm finding the idea a bit scary as I've worked for as long as I can remember. I've also been with my current employer for over 10 years so the idea of starting again in a couple of years once they're all at school is a bit scary. Any thoughts? CSWS any advice as I know we're in a similar type of work??

Must get a bit more organised with the weaning - very haphazard at the moment and I really can't remember what I did with the girls.

CSWS I love that porridge pancake idea - will definitely try that when we start solids. I'm an oat addict and I think I might like it myself :) I'm glad the weaning seems to be going well for those who have started.

always and bravegirl I'm hoping that you can get some decent sleep and that things will seem a bit more hopeful.

madamefreckle your timing for your trip to Oz sounds perfect to me. IME flying with a baby gets infinitely more difficult once they learn to crawl and want to roll around the cabin eating old peanuts and licking other people's shoes. But up until that point, the flight's one long cuddle, and who wouldn't love that? I don't know how old your DS is, though so he might be a different matter...

Top news here is that Magnus slept through until 5am last night. And the night before DH got up and settled him the first time he woke (first time ever for DH, so about time too.) I feel like I could run a marathon now. You know, if I was in any way fit.

Our kitchen + BLW twins and toddler = akin to a major industrial accident.
One jack russell = very fat and happy.

Good work magnus on sleeping til 5am!
MadameF very envious of your month in Oz. However dreadful the journey is, it will be wonderful once you are there, away from this big freeze.

I'm not going back to work until July, although I have moments during the day when I fantasise about being in the office, quietly working away with a cup of tea....it almost feels like a treat.

For those worried about going back, I can promise you that although the early days will be hard on both you and your LO, you WILL both adjust, and appreciate having that part of your life back to some extent. One tip from me is to stagger or phase the return. For example, start your LO at nursery/childminder a few weeks before you go back, so they are fully settled in by the time you return. Then you will only be worrying about going back to work, and not your LO, on day one.
Also, you could take a day's leave each week for the first month or so, hence reducing your working week as you settle in.

Hi all.

Just thought I'd check in to say 'HI'.

Tilly's been weaned for quite a while now. Did it early as I've got older children who weaned at 13 and 14 weeks (although I left i later with Tilly)respectively and Tilly suffers from reflux so having solid food in her diet(we're talking baby rice here) from quite early has been a massive help. Was a really tough time when the reflux was at it's worst but touch wood, we're through the worst of it now.

Tilly has had a horrendous cold/cough for about 10 or more weeks now. They won't give her any antibiotics as it's supposedly just an upper respiratory infection, we've had numerous trips to the doctors and hospital lately and I'm absolutely shattered as whilst she does sleep all night she has very disturbed sleep because of her breathing. She has been given an inhaler........but I can't really tell whether it works or not yet. Hopefully it will go away soon!

I'm sorry fo those who are bordering on PND. I had it with DC2 and I'm sure there is a definite link with sleep depravation as DS was the only child of mine that didn't sleep through from an early age, in fact he used to wake up for 3 feeds until he was a year old.

I'm not going back to my old job but am going to start looking for a new job in January. I'm very nervous as I feel so out of touch with everything.

mampam I'd been wondering if you were around. Sorry to hear Tilly's poorly. Do you fancy meeting up sometime now I'm in Devon?

I'm also going to start looking for a new job in January, which is pretty daunting as I felt so happy and settled in my old one. I'm feeling far more nervous about getting DD1 settled into childcare than I am about Alice as she's only ever been looked after by family before and she's very shy whereas Alice is much more sociable and outgoing.

AlwaysHopeful I would have been very interested in the coats a few days ago but I've just got Alice kitted out with a new coat ready for our trip to Shetland. She's so lovely and cosy now!

Have been sorting out the old 6-9 month clothes from the loft for Alice and they seem to be mostly pretty summer dresses and light tops and trousers. I think Alice may be wearing a layered look this season

Hi all, sorry I've been offline for a while but things have gone from busy to hectic over here....
I'm feeling very sorry for myself today, ao am going to take advantage of the thread to unbundle my list of woes (look away now!):

1. Horrendous cold/cough/sinusitis that has been getting worse for a week :( Shared by DD1 and Mia :( :(
2. I cracked a filling last night and my jaw is swollen and v sore :(
3. My nose is cracked and bleeding as a result of #1 :(
4. We had to sack our nanny yesterday and I've now got 2 weeks of termtime left to juggle bfing Mia at exactly school and nursery collection times and keep on top of homework, laundry, after school activities etc
5. I have 35 family memebers coming for a big tea party tomorrow afternoon
6. I am due to visit my dying grandma in Manchester with Mia on Monday (train tickets booked and paid for and un-moveable) and have no Plan B to cover the other DCs....I'm leaving home at 10 and not back until 8pm :(

I know, I know, it could be worse, but the 'stretched' feeling was already pretty bad before all this!

I shall probably start a thread in AIBU regarding the nanny sacking, if anyone is interested....

Mia is now 24 weeks, and started on baby rice, pureed carrot and apple mush this week....(quite a bit later than the other 2, CSWS)....impact on nappies is noticeable but not disgusting, although I'm sure that will change as the range expands! I'm still bfing but not sure how much longer - she's getting much more distracted by the world, so feeding less well, then hungry and grumpy waaaaay earlier which is also affecting her daytime sleeps. I vaguely remember this being the reason I introduced DS to bottles at around this point...

Sorry no personals, my brain feels like tis exploding & I have heaps of laundry and cooking to deal with....but love to all and sorry for grumbling :)

Filly, I think you're perfectly entitled to a grumble. Hope you manage to work out a plan B for monday.

Filly, have the whole bottle - you deserve it having read the thread. Am now worried having agreed contract with new nanny to start in Jan!